1Bildad sheweth God's justice in dealing with men according to their works: 8he appealeth to antiquity to prove the certain destruction of the hypocrite: 20he applieth the argument of God's just dealing to the case of Job.
1THEN answered aBildad the Shuhite, and said,
a ch. 2.11.
2How long wilt thou speak these things ? and how long shall the words of thy mouth bbe like a strong wind?
b ch. 7.19-21; 6.11-13,26.
3cDoth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
c ch. 34.12,17. Ge. 18.25. Zep. 3.5. De. 32.4. 2Ch. 19.7. Da. 9.14. Ro. 3.5,6. Ps. 89.14.
4If dthy children have sinned eagainst him, and he have cast them away 1for their transgression;
1Heb. in the hand of their transgression.
d ch. 1.5,18,19. e Ge. 13.13. 2Sa. 24.10. Ps. 55.23; 140.11. Ho. 13.11.
5fIf thou wouldest seek unto God *betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
*betimes-early.
f ch. 22.21,23; 11.13; 5.8. Ps. 50.15; 91.15; 34.4,6.
6gIf thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
g ch. 1.1. Ja. 4.8. Le. 26.3-14. De. 28.1-14. Is. 1.19; 3.10. Ps. 7.8; 35.23; 44.23. 1Ti. 4.8.
7hThough thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
h Zec. 4.10. Mat. 13.12. Is. 60.22. ch. 42.11,12.
8iFor enquire, jI pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
i De. 32.7. j De. 4.32. Is. 38.19. ch. 15.18. Ro. 15.4. Ps. 44.1; 78.3,4.
9(For kwe are but of yesterday, and know 2nothing, because our days upon earth are la shadow:)
2Heb. not.
k Ge. 47.9. ch. 7.6. 1Ch. 29.15. Ps. 39.5; 102.11; 144.4. Ja. 4.14. Pr. 30.2. ch. 12.2,3; 13.2. l ch. 14.2.
10Shall not they mteach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
m He. 11.4. Is. 63.7. Ps. 78.1-8; 66.16; 145.3-7. Mat. 12.35; 13.52.
11Can the rush grow up without mire? can the *flag grow without water?
*flag-marshland plants, such as reed or rush.
12nWhilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.
n Ps. 129.6. Je. 17.6. Ja. 1.10,11. Mat. 13.20.
13So are the opaths of all that forget God; and the phypocrite's hope shall perish:
o Ps. 9.17; 10.4; 50.22. De. 8.11,14. Tit. 1.16. Je. 2.32. p ch. 11.20; 13.16; 15.34; 18.14; 27.8. Ps. 112.10; 52.7. Pr. 10.28. Je. 2.25.
14Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's 3web.
3Heb. house, Is. 59.5,6. ch. 15.34.
15He shall qlean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
q Is. 36.6; 33.14. ch. 27.18. Mat. 7.26,27. Ro. 10.3.
16rHe is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.
r Ps. 37.35,36; 73.3,4,12. Je. 12.1. ch. 21.7-15.
17His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.
18sIf he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying , I have not seen thee.
s ch. 7.9,10; 20.9. Ec. 12.5. Ps. 37.36; 73.18,19; 55.23.
19Behold, tthis is the joy of his way, and uout of the earth shall others grow.
t ch. 20.5. Is. 20.5,6. u Ps. 113.7; 75.7. 1Sa. 2.8. Eze. 17.24. ch. 27.16,17. Mat. 3.9.
20Behold, God vwill not cast away a perfect man , neither will he 4help the evil doers:
4Heb. take the ungodly by the hand, Is. 1.20; 3.11. Ps. 55.23.
v Is. 1.19; 41.9; 3.10. Ps. 37.24,28; 94.14.
21Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with 5rejoicing.
5Heb. shouting for joy, Is. 65.13. Ps. 65.13; 126.2.
22They that hate thee wshall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall 6come to nought.
6Heb. not be, v.18. Pr. 3.33. Zec. 5.4. Ps. 69.25,27.
w Ps. 132.18; 35.26; 69.7; 109.28,29.