1 Bildad from Shuah* said:

2 How long will you talk

and keep saying nothing?

3 Does God All-Powerful

stand in the way of justice?

4 He made your children pay

for their sins.

5 So why don't you turn to him

6 and start living right?

Then he will decide

to rescue and restore you

to your place of honor.

7 Your future will be brighter

by 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 you

with great understanding.

11 Papyrus reeds grow healthy

only in a swamp,

12 and if the water dries up,

they die sooner than grass.

13 Such is the hopeless future

of all who turn from God

14 and trust in something as frail

as a spider's web—

15 they take hold and fall

because it's so flimsy.

16 Sinful people are like plants

with spreading roots and plenty

of sun and water.

17 They wrap their roots tightly

around 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 reject

an innocent person

or help a sinner.

21 And so, he will make you happy

and give you something

to smile about.

22 But your evil enemies

will be put to shame

and disappear forever.