Bildad Says God Rewards the Good

1Then 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 [a]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,

6Then, 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,

14For 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.”