Job

¹ 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 does the Almighty pervert righteousness?

⁴ "If your children have sinned against Him, Then He has handed them over to the power of their transgression and punished them.

⁵ "If you would [diligently] seek God And implore the compassion and favor of the Almighty,

⁶ Then, if you are pure and upright, Surely now He will awaken for you And restore your righteous place.

⁷ "Though your beginning was insignificant, Yet your end will greatly increase.

⁸ "Inquire, please, of past generations, And consider and apply yourself to the things searched out by their fathers.

⁹ "For we are only of 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 you and tell you, And utter words from their hearts [the deepest part of their nature]?

¹¹ "Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the rushes or reed grass grow without water?

¹² "While it is still green (in flower) and not cut down, Yet it withers before any other plant [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 fragile and breaks, 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 thrives and prospers [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 up and grow [to take his place].

²⁰ "Behold, God will not reject a man of integrity, Nor will He strengthen or support evildoers.

²¹ "He will yet fill your mouth with laughter And 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."