1Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: 2How long will you speak these things, and the words of your mouth be like a strong wind? 3Does the Mighty God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness? 4If your sons have sinned against Him, He has cast them away for their transgression. 5If you would earnestly seek the Mighty God and make your supplication to the Almighty, 6if you were pure and upright, surely now He would awake for you, and would have restored your righteous abode. 7Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly. 8For inquire now of the former generation, and prepare to search the fathers; 9for we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow. 10Shall they not teach you and tell you, and utter words from their heart? 11Can the rush grow up without a marsh? Can the reeds grow without water? 12While it is yet green and not cut down, it dries up before any other plant. 13So are the paths of all who forget the Mighty God; and the hope of the ungodly shall perish, 14whose confidence shall be cut off, and whose trust as a spider’s house. 15He leans on his house, but it does not stand. He holds it fast, but it does not endure. 16He is moist before the sun, and his shoots spread out in his garden. 17His roots are wrapped around a heap; he sees a house of stones. 18If he is swallowed up from his place, then it will deny him, saying, I have not seen you. 19Behold, this is the joy of His way, and out of the earth others shall grow. 20Behold, the Mighty God will not cast away the perfect, nor will His hand support evildoers. 21He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with rejoicing. 22Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will come to nothing.