With an insulting remark, Job’s second friend enters the conversation and immediately begins to defend God’s justice. Although it was implied before, the question now becomes clearer (3). Following the tradition of wise elders, Bildad appeals to the wisdom passed down through generations by ancestors (8-10). Echoing this, he quotes a proverb: just as plants need water to grow and thrive, so humans need God to grow and prosper (11f). Then, Bildad illustrates the person who forgets God. Such spiritual amnesia can only lead to serious consequences, and even if that person attains some prosperity, it will always be fragile (13-19). On the other hand, God does not forget the righteous (20-22). If Job repented, his life would once again be filled with laughter and joy. Ironically, Bildad gives a hint of what will actually happen at the end of the book (42:7-17).