1 Bildad Claims God Rewards the Good Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,2 “How long will you say these things,And the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?3 “Does God pervert justice?Or does 8:3Heb Shaddai the Almighty pervert what is right?4 “If your sons sinned against Him,Then He sent them into the 8:4 Lit hand power of their transgression.5 “If you would seek God earnestlyAnd plead for the grace of 8:5Heb Shaddai the Almighty,6 If you are pure and upright,Indeed now He would rouse Himself for youAnd make your righteous abode at peace.7 “Though your beginning was insignificant,Yet your end will increase greatly.8 ¶“Please ask of past generations,And establish the things searched out by their fathers.9 “For we areonlyof yesterday and know nothing,Because our days on earth arebuta shadow.10 “Will they not instruct youandtell you,And bring forth words from their hearts?11 ¶“Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?Can the rushes grow without water?12 “While it is still greenandnot cut down,Yet it dries up before anyother 8:12Lit reed plant.13 “So are the paths of all who forget God;And the hope of the godless will perish,14 Whose confidence is fragile,And whose trust a spider’s 8:14 Lit house web.15 “He relies on his house, but it does not stand;He holds fast to it, but it is not established.16 “He 8:16Lit is lush thrives before the sun,And his shoots go forth over his garden.17 “His roots wrap around a rock pile;He looks upon a house of stones.18 “If He swallows him up from his place,Then it will deny him,saying, ‘I never saw you.’19 “Behold, this is the joy of 8:19 Or his His way;And out of the dust others will spring.20 “Behold, God will not reject a blamelessman,Nor will He strengthen the hand of the evildoers.21 “He will yet fill your mouth with laughterAnd your lips with shouting.22 “Those who hate you will be clothed with shame,And the tent of the wicked will be no longer.”