Bildad says that if Job is pure, God will restore him. He argues from the wisdom of earlier generations that God does not reject the blameless nor help evildoers.
1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite , and said ,
2 How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind ?
3 Doth God pervert judgment ? or doth the Almighty pervert justice ?
4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression ;
5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes , and make thy supplication to the Almighty ;
6 If thou wert pure and upright ; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous .
7 Though thy beginning was small , yet thy latter end should greatly increase .
8 For 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 :)
10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart ?
11 Can the rush grow up without mire ? can the flag grow without water ?
12 Whilst it is yet in his greenness , and not cut down , it withereth before any other herb .
13 So are the paths of all that forget God ; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish :
14 Whose hope shall be cut off , and whose trust shall be a spider's web .
15 He shall lean upon his house , but it shall not stand : he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure .
16 He is green before the sun , and his branch shooteth forth in his garden .
17 His roots are wrapped about the heap , and seeth the place of stones .
18 If he destroy him from his place , then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way , and out of the earth shall others grow .
20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers :
21 Till he fill thy mouth with laughing , and thy lips with rejoicing .
22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame ; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought .