2 

“How long will you talk like that,

with wild and whirling words?

3 

Does God pervert justice?

Does the Almighty wrest what is right?

4 

Though your children sinned against him,

and he left them to their fate,

5 

seek God out, for yourself,

entreat the Almighty’s favour,

6 

and if you are pure and upright,

he will answer your prayer indeed,

and prosper your godly home;

7 small though your start may be,

amply he will enrich you in the end.

8 

Question men of bygone ages,

attend to what our fathers found

9 

(for what know we, mere men of yesterday?--

our days on earth are but a flitting shadow);

10 

will they not tell you what they know,

and teach you in their wisdom this--

11 

‘Can the papyrus grow up without mud?

can the reed flourish without water?

12 

No, all uncut, all fresh and green,

it withers before any plant.

13 

So end all who care not for God,

so perishes the hope of an ungodly man;

14 

his confidence is like a gossamer thread,

his trust no stronger than a spider’s web;

15 

on his house he relies, and it gives way,

he clutches it, and yet it will not stay.

16 

He is a green plant, growing in the sun,

with shoots all over the garden,

17 

with roots twined round the spring,

thriving inside the greenhouse;

18 

yet, once it is destroyed,

its place disowns it utterly.

19 

So ends a godless man,

and others rise up in his stead.’

20 

Ah, God will never banish a blameless man,

never will he uphold wrongdoers;

21 

he will yet fill your lips with laughter,

and your mouth with shouts of joy;

22 

your foes shall be covered with confusion,

the tents of evil men shall disappear.”