1 Bildad from Shuah said:
2 How long will you talkand keep saying nothing?
3 Does God All-Powerfulstand in the way of justice?
4 He made your children payfor their sins.
5 So why don't you turn to him
6 and start living right?Then he will decideto rescue and restore youto your place of honor.
7 Your future will be brighterby far than your past.
8 Our ancestors were wise,so learn from them.
9 Our own time has been short,like a fading shadow,and we know very little.
10 But they will instruct youwith great understanding.
11 Papyrus reeds grow healthyonly in a swamp,
12 and if the water dries up,they die sooner than grass.
13 Such is the hopeless futureof all who turn from God
14 and trust in something as frailas a spider's web—
15 they take hold and fallbecause it's so flimsy.
16 Sinful people are like plantswith spreading roots and plentyof sun and water.
17 They wrap their roots tightlyaround rocks.
18 But once they are pulled up,they have no more place;
19 their life slips away,and other plants grow there.
20 We know God doesn't rejectan innocent personor help a sinner.
21 And so, he will make you happyand give you somethingto smile about.
22 But your evil enemieswill be put to shameand disappear forever.