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New International Version (NIV) |
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1 "Call now; is there any one who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?
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1 "Call if you will, but who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?
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2 Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.
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2 Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.
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3 I have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his dwelling.
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3 I myself have seen a fool taking root, but suddenly his house was cursed.
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4 His sons are far from safety, they are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them.
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4 His children are far from safety, crushed in court without a defender.
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5 His harvest the hungry eat, and he takes it even out of thorns; and the thirsty pant after his wealth.
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5 The hungry consume his harvest, taking it even from among thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth.
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6 For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground;
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6 For hardship does not spring from the soil, nor does trouble sprout from the ground.
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7 but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.
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7 Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.
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8 "As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause;
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8 "But if it were I, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him.
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9 who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number:
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9 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.
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10 he gives rain upon the earth and sends waters upon the fields;
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10 He bestows rain on the earth; he sends water upon the countryside.
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11 he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
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11 The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
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12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.
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12 He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.
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13 He takes the wise in their own craftiness; and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.
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13 He catches the wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are swept away.
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14 They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope at noonday as in the night.
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14 Darkness comes upon them in the daytime; at noon they grope as in the night.
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15 But he saves the fatherless from their mouth, the needy from the hand of the mighty.
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15 He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth; he saves them from the clutches of the powerful.
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16 So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.
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16 So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.
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17 "Behold, happy is the man whom God reproves; therefore despise not the chastening of the Almighty.
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17 "Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
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18 For he wounds, but he binds up; he smites, but his hands heal.
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18 For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.
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19 He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven there shall no evil touch you.
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19 From six calamities he will rescue you; in seven no harm will befall you.
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20 In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword.
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20 In famine he will ransom you from death, and in battle from the stroke of the sword.
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21 You shall be hid from the scourge of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes.
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21 You will be protected from the lash of the tongue, and need not fear when destruction comes.
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22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the beasts of the earth.
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22 You will laugh at destruction and famine, and need not fear the beasts of the earth.
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23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.
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23 For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you.
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24 You shall know that your tent is safe, and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.
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24 You will know that your tent is secure; you will take stock of your property and find nothing missing.
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25 You shall know also that your descendants shall be many, and your offspring as the grass of the earth.
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25 You will know that your children will be many, and your descendants like the grass of the earth.
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26 You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, as a shock of grain comes up to the threshing floor in its season.
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26 You will come to the grave in full vigor, like sheaves gathered in season.
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27 Lo, this we have searched out; it is true. Hear, and know it for your good."
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27 "We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it and apply it to yourself."
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| Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (Revised Standard Version - Holy Bible) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
