Bildad Speaks: Job Should Repent

1Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:

2‘How long will you say these things,

and the words of your mouth be a great wind?

3Does God pervert justice?

Or does the Almighty8.3 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai pervert the right?

4If your children sinned against him,

he delivered them into the power of their transgression.

5If you will seek God

and make supplication to the Almighty,8.5 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai

6if you are pure and upright,

surely then he will rouse himself for you

and restore to you your rightful place.

7Though your beginning was small,

your latter days will be very great.

8‘For inquire now of bygone generations,

and consider what their ancestors have found;

9for we are but of yesterday, and we know nothing,

for our days on earth are but a shadow.

10Will they not teach you and tell you

and utter words out of their understanding?

11‘Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh?

Can reeds flourish where there is no water?

12While yet in flower and not cut down,

they wither before any other plant.

13Such are the paths of all who forget God;

the hope of the godless shall perish.

14Their confidence is gossamer,

a spider's house their trust.

15If one leans against its house, it will not stand;

if one lays hold of it, it will not endure.

16The wicked thrive8.16 Heb He thrives before the sun,

and their shoots spread over the garden.

17Their roots twine around the stoneheap;

they live among the rocks.8.17 Gk Vg: Meaning of Heb uncertain

18If they are destroyed from their place,

then it will deny them, saying, “I have never seen you.”

19See, these are their happy ways,8.19 Meaning of Heb uncertain

and out of the earth still others will spring.

20‘See, God will not reject a blameless person,

nor take the hand of evildoers.

21He will yet fill your mouth with laughter,

and your lips with shouts of joy.

22Those who hate you will be clothed with shame,

and the tent of the wicked will be no more.’