Bildad's First Speech
How Long Will You Talk?
1Bildad from Shuah said:
2How long will you talk
and keep saying nothing?
3Does God All-Powerful
stand in the way of justice?
4He made your children pay
for their sins.
5So why don't you turn to him
6and start living right?
Then he will decide
to rescue and restore you
to your place of honor.
7Your future will be brighter
by far than your past.
Our Ancestors Were Wise
8 Our ancestors were wise,
so learn from them.
9Our own time has been short,
like a fading shadow,
and we know very little.
10But they will instruct you
with great understanding.
11Papyrus reeds grow healthy
only in a swamp,
12and if the water dries up,
they die sooner than grass.
13Such is the hopeless future
of all who turn from God
14and trust in something as frail
as a spider's web—
15they take hold and fall
because it's so flimsy.
16Sinful people are like plants
with spreading roots and plenty
of sun and water.
17They wrap their roots tightly
around rocks.
18But once they are pulled up,
they have no more place;
19their life slips away,
and other plants grow there.
20We know God doesn't reject
an innocent person
or help a sinner.
21And so, he will make you happy
and give you something
to smile about.
22But your evil enemies
will be put to shame
and disappear forever.