1And Bildaḏ the Shuḥite answered and said,

2“How long are you going to speak like this, since the words of your mouth are a strong wind?

3Does Ěl twist right-ruling? Or does the Almighty twist what is right?

4If your sons have sinned against Him, and He delivers them into the hand of their transgression,

5if you diligently seek Ěl and plead with the Almighty,

6if you were clear and straight, then indeed He would awake for you, and shall bless your righteous dwelling place.

7Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.

8Indeed, please ask the former generation, and prepare for the research of their fathers,

9for we are but of yesterday, and know not, because our days on earth are as a shadow.

10Do they not teach you, speak to you, and bring forth words from their heart?

11Does papyrus grow without a marsh, a reed thrive without water?

12While it is yet green, not cut down, it dries out before any plant.

13So are the paths of all who forget Ěl, and the expectancy of a defiled one does perish,

14whose refuge is cut off, and whose trust is a spider’s web.

15He leans on his house, but it does not stand. He holds it fast, but it does not last.

16He is moist before the sun, and his branches spread out in his garden.

17His roots wrap around a heap, and look for a place in the stones.

18If he is destroyed from his place, then it shall deny him: ‘I have not seen you.’

19See, this is the joy of His way, and out of the dust others grow.

20See, Ěl does not cast away the perfect, neither hold the hand of evil-doers.

21While He fills your mouth with laughter, and your lips with rejoicing,

22those hating you put on shame, and the tent of the wrong is no more.”