 1 Bildad the Shuhite said, 2 How long will you speak these things, since the words of your mouth are like a strong wind? 3 Does God pervert judgment? Or does the Almighty pervert justice? 4 If your sons have sinned against Him, and if He has cast them away for their transgression, 5 if you would seek earnestly to God and make your prayer to the Almighty; 6 if you were pure and upright, surely now He would awake for you, and make the dwelling place of your righteousness blessed. 7 If your beginning was small, yet your end would greatly increase. 8 For please ask of the former age, and prepare yourself to the search of their fathers, 9 for we are but of yesterday and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow. 10 Shall they not teach you, and tell you, and speak words out of their heart? 11 Can the rush grow up without mire? Can the reed grass grow without water? 12 While it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, it dries out before any other herb. 13 So are the paths of all who forget God. And the hope of the ungodly will perish. 14 His hope will be cut off, and his trust will be in a spider's web. 15 He will lean on his house but it will not stand. He will hold fast to it but it will not endure. 16 He is moist before the sun, and his branches shoot forth in his garden. 17 His roots are wrapped around the heap, and he sees the place of stones. 18 If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him: I have not seen you. 19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth others will grow. 20 Behold, God will not cast away the innocent, nor will He help the evildoers, 21 until He fills your mouth with laughter, and your lips with rejoicing. 22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame and the home+ of the wicked will exist no more.
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