| 1 ¶ Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
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| 2 How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?
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| 3 Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
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| 4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for1 their transgression;
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| 5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
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| 6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
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| 7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
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| 8 ¶ For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
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| 9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing,2 because our days upon earth are a shadow:)
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| 10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
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| 11 Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
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| 12 Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.
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| 13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:
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| 14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.3
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| 15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
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| 16 He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.
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| 17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.
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| 18 If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.
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| 19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.
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| 20 ¶ Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help4 the evil doers:
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| 21 Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.5
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| 22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come6 to nought.
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