Bildad: Job Should Repent
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2 “How long will you speak thesethings,
And the words of your mouthbelikea strong wind?
3 Does God subvert judgment?
Or does the Almighty pervert justice?
4 Ifyour sons have sinned against Him,
He has cast them away for their transgression.
5 If you would earnestly seek God
And make your supplication to the Almighty,
6 If youwerepure and upright,
Surely now He would awake for you,
And prosper your rightful dwelling place.
7 Though your beginning was small,
# Yet your latter end wouldincrease abundantly.
8 “Forinquire, please, of the former age,
And consider the things discovered by their fathers;
9 Forwewerebornyesterday, and know nothing,
Because our days on eartharea shadow.
10 Will they not teach you and tell you,
And utter words from their heart?
11 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?
Can the reeds flourish without water?
12 While itisyet greenandnot cut down,
It withers before anyotherplant.
13 Soarethe paths of all whoforget God;
# And the hope of thehypocrite shall perish,
14 Whose confidence shall be cut off,
And whose trustisa spider’s web.
15 He leans on his house, but it does not stand.
He holds it fast, but it does not endure.
16 He grows green in the sun,
And his branches spread out in his garden.
17 His roots wrap around the rock heap,
Andlook for a place in the stones.
18 If he is destroyed from his place,
Thenitwill deny him,saying,‘I have not seen you.’
19 “Behold, this is the joy of His way,
# Andout of the earth others will grow.
20 Behold,God will not cast away the blameless,
Nor will He uphold the evildoers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughing,
And your lips with rejoicing.
22 Those who hate you will beclothed with shame,
And the dwelling place of the wicked will come to nothing.”