Bildad
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2 “How long will you say such things?
Your words are a blustering wind.
Your words are a blustering wind.
3 Does God pervert justice?
Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
4 When your children sinned against him,
he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.
he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.
5 But if you will seek God earnestly
and plead with the Almighty,
and plead with the Almighty,
6 if you are pure and upright,
even now he will rouse himself on your behalf
and restore you to your prosperous state.
even now he will rouse himself on your behalf
and restore you to your prosperous state.
7 Your beginnings will seem humble,
so prosperous will your future be.
so prosperous will your future be.
8 “Ask the former generation
and find out what their ancestors learned,
and find out what their ancestors learned,
9 for we were born only yesterday and know nothing,
and our days on earth are but a shadow.
and our days on earth are but a shadow.
10 Will they not instruct you and tell you?
Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?
Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?
11 Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh?
Can reeds thrive without water?
Can reeds thrive without water?
12 While still growing and uncut,
they wither more quickly than grass.
they wither more quickly than grass.
13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God;
so perishes the hope of the godless.
so perishes the hope of the godless.
14 What they trust in is fragilea;
what they rely on is a spider’s web.
what they rely on is a spider’s web.
15 They lean on the web, but it gives way;
they cling to it, but it does not hold.
they cling to it, but it does not hold.
16 They are like a well-watered plant in the sunshine,
spreading its shoots over the garden;
spreading its shoots over the garden;
17 it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks
and looks for a place among the stones.
and looks for a place among the stones.
18 But when it is torn from its spot,
that place disowns it and says, ‘I never saw you.’
that place disowns it and says, ‘I never saw you.’
19 Surely its life withers away,
andb from the soil other plants grow.
andb from the soil other plants grow.
20 “Surely God does not reject one who is blameless
or strengthen the hands of evildoers.
or strengthen the hands of evildoers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
and your lips with shouts of joy.
and your lips with shouts of joy.
22 Your enemies will be clothed in shame,
and the tents of the wicked will be no more.”
and the tents of the wicked will be no more.”