1 And 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?
3 Does Ĕl twist right-ruling? Or does Ĕl Shaddai twist what is right?
4 If your sons have sinned against Him, and He delivers them into the hand of their transgression,
5 if you diligently seek Ĕl and plead with Ĕl Shaddai,
6 if you were clear and straight, then indeed He would awake for you, and shall baraḵ your righteous dwelling place.
7 Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.
8 Indeed, please ask the former generation, and prepare for the research of their fathers,
9 for we are but of yesterday, and know not, because our days on earth are as a shadow.
10 Do they not teach you, speak to you, and bring forth words from their heart?
11 Does papyrus grow without a marsh, a reed thrive without water?
12 While it is yet green, not cut down, it dries out before any plant.
13 So are the paths of all who forget Ĕl, and the expectancy of a defiled one perishes,
14 whose refuge is cut off, and whose trust is a spider’s web.
15 He leans on his house, but it does not stand. He holds it fast, but it does not last.
16 He is moist before the sun, and his branches spread out in his garden.
17 His roots wrap around a heap, and look for a place in the stones.
18 If he is destroyed from his place, then it shall deny him: ‘I have not seen you.’
19 See, this is the joy of His way, and out of the dust others grow.
20 See, Ĕl does not cast away the perfect, neither hold the hand of evil-doers.
21 While He fills your mouth with laughter, and your lips with rejoicing,
22 those hating you put on shame, and the tent of the wicked is no more.”