1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, 2 How long wilt thou speak these |things|? and |how long shall| the words of thy mouth |be like| a strong wind? 3 Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice? 4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression; 5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; 6 If thou |wert| pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. 7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. 8 For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers: 9 (For we |are but of| yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth |are| a shadow:) 10 Shall not they teach thee, |and| tell thee, and utter words out of their heart? 11 Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water? 12 Whilst it |is| yet in his greenness, |and| not cut down, it withereth before any |other| herb. 13 So |are| the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish: 14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust |shall be| a spider’s web. 15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure. 16 He |is| green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden. 17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, |and| seeth the place of stones. 18 If he destroy him from his place, then |it| shall deny him, |saying|, I have not seen thee. 19 Behold, this |is| the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow. 20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect |man|, neither will he help the evil doers: 21 Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing. 22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.