1 Bildad Says God Rewards the Good Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,2 “How long will you say these things?And will the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?3 Does God pervert justice?Or doesHeb Shaddai.the Almighty pervert righteousness?4 If your children have sinned against Him,Then He has handed them over to the power of their transgressionandpunished them.5 If you would [diligently] seek GodAnd implore the compassionandfavor of the Almighty,6 Then, if you are pure and upright,Surely now He will awaken for youAnd restore your righteous place.7 Though your beginning was insignificant,Yet your end will greatly increase.8 “Inquire, please, of past generations,And considerandapply yourself to the things searched out by their fathers.9 For we areonlyof yesterday and know nothing,Because our days on earth are [like] a shadow [just a breath or a vapor].10 Will they (the fathers) not teach youandtell you,And utter words from their hearts [the deepest part of their nature]?11 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?Can the rushesorreed grass grow without water?12 While it is still green (in flower) and not cut down,Yet it withers before anyotherplant [when without water].13 So are the paths of all who forget God;And the hope of the godless will perish,14 For his confidence is fragileandbreaks,And his trust is [like] a spider’s web.15 He trusts in his house, but it does not stand;He holds tightly to it, but it does not endure.16 He thrivesandprospers [like a green plant] before the sun,And his branches spread out over his garden.17 His [godless] roots are wrapped around a pile of rocks,And he gazes at a house of stones.18 If he is snatched from his place [in the garden],Then his place will forget him,saying,‘I have never seen you.’19 Behold, this is the joy of His way;And from out of the dust others will spring upandgrow [to take his place].20 Behold, God will not reject aman ofintegrity,Nor will He strengthenorsupport evildoers.21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughterAnd your lips with joyful shouting [if you are found blameless].22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame,And the tents of the wicked will be no longer.”