MLV(i)
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,
2 How long will you speak these things? And how long will the words of your mouth be like a mighty wind?
3 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
4 If your sons have sinned against him and he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression,
5 if you would seek diligently to God and make your supplication to the Almighty,
6 if you were pure and upright, surely now he would awake for you and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.
7 And though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.
8 Because I beseech you, inquire of the former age and apply yourself to what their fathers have searched out
9 (for we are but of yesterday and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow).
10 Shall they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their heart?
11 Can the rush grow up without mud? Can a reed grow without water? 12 While it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, it withers before any other herb. 13 So are the paths of all who forget God. And the hope of the profane man will perish, 14 whose confidence will break apart and whose trust is a spider's web.
15 He will lean upon his house, but it will not stand. He will hold fast to it, but it will not endure. 16 He is green before the sun and his offshoots go forth over his garden. 17 His roots are wrapped around the stone heap. He beholds the place of stones. 18 If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, I have not seen you. 19 Behold, this is the joy of his way and out of the earth others will spring.
20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, nor will he uphold the evildoers. 21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouting. 22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame and the tent of the wicked will be no more.
11 Can the rush grow up without mud? Can a reed grow without water? 12 While it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, it withers before any other herb. 13 So are the paths of all who forget God. And the hope of the profane man will perish, 14 whose confidence will break apart and whose trust is a spider's web.
15 He will lean upon his house, but it will not stand. He will hold fast to it, but it will not endure. 16 He is green before the sun and his offshoots go forth over his garden. 17 His roots are wrapped around the stone heap. He beholds the place of stones. 18 If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, I have not seen you. 19 Behold, this is the joy of his way and out of the earth others will spring.
20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, nor will he uphold the evildoers. 21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouting. 22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame and the tent of the wicked will be no more.