Bildad: Job Should Repent
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
2 “How long will you speak these things?
Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
3 Does God pervert justice?
Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
4 If your children have sinned against him,
he has delivered them into the penalty for their disobedience.
5 If you want to seek God diligently,
make your supplication to the Almighty.
6 If you were pure and upright,
surely now he would awaken for you,
and restore you to your rightful place.
7 Though your beginning was small,
yet your latter end would greatly increase.
8 Please inquire of past generations.
Find out about the learning of their fathers,
9 for we were born only yesterday, and know nothing,
because our days on earth are just a shadow.
10 Shall they not teach you, tell you,
and speak words from their heart?
11 Can the papyrus grow without marsh?
Can the reeds grow without water?
12 While it is still green and uncut,
it withers before any other plant.
13 So are the paths of all who forget God.
The hope of the godless man will perish.
14 His confidence will break.
He trusts in a spider’s web.
15 He will lean on his house, but it will not stand.
He will cling to it, but it will not endure.
16 He is green before the sun.
His shoots go out along his garden.
17 His roots are wrapped around the rock pile.
He sees the place of stones.
18 If he is destroyed from his place,
then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’
19 This is the “joy” of the way of the godless:
and from the dust, others will spring up.
20 God does not cast away a blameless man,
nor will he uphold the evildoers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter,
your lips with rejoicing.
22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame.
The tent of the wicked will be no more.”