To explore why righteous people suffer and to show that God's wisdom is beyond human understanding, yet He is just and faithful.
1Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2How long wilt thou speak these {things}? and {how long shall} the words of thy mouth {be like} a strong wind?
3Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
4If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression; {for...: Heb. in the hand of their transgression}
5If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
6If thou {wert} pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
7Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
8For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
9(For we {are but of} yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth {are} a shadow:) {nothing: Heb. not}
10Shall not they teach thee, {and} tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
11Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
12Whilst it {is} yet in his greenness, {and} not cut down, it withereth before any {other} herb.
13So {are} the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:
14Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust {shall be} a spider's web. {web: Heb. house}
15He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
16He {is} green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.
17His roots are wrapped about the heap, {and} seeth the place of stones.
18If he destroy him from his place, then {it} shall deny him, {saying}, I have not seen thee.
19Behold, this {is} the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.
20Behold, God will not cast away a perfect {man}, neither will he help the evil doers: {help...: Heb. take the ungodly by the hand} {come: Heb. shall not be}
21Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing. {rejoicing: Heb. shouting for joy}
22They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought. {shall come...: Heb. shall not be}