| Common English Bible (CEB) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 Bildad from Shuah responded:
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1 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
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2 How long will you mouth such things such that your utterances become a strong wind?
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2 "How long will you say such things? Your words are a blustering wind.
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3 Does God pervert justice, or does the Almighty distort what is right?
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3 Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
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4 If your children sinned against him, then he delivered them into the power of their rebellion.
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4 When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.
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5 If you will search eagerly for God, plead with the Almighty.
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5 But if you will look to God and plead with the Almighty,
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6 If you are pure and do the right thing, then surely he will become active on your behalf and reward your innocent dwelling.
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6 if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your rightful place.
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7 Although your former state was ordinary, your future will be extraordinary.
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7 Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.
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8 Ask a previous generation and verify the findings of your ancestors,
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8 "Ask the former generations and find out what their fathers learned,
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9 for we are only recently here and don't know because our days on earth are a shadow.
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9 for we were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow.
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10 Won't they instruct you and tell you; will words not proceed from their hearts?
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10 Will they not instruct you and tell you? Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?
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11 Does papyrus grow apart from a marsh? Does a reed flourish without water?
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11 Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds thrive without water?
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12 While still tender, uncut, it will wither before every other grass.
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12 While still growing and uncut, they wither more quickly than grass.
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13 So are the paths of all who forget God. Hope perishes for the godless,
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13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless.
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14 whose confidence is a fragile thing, their trust, a spider's web.
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14 What he trusts in is fragile; what he relies on is a spider's web.
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15 He leans on its web, and it doesn't stand; grasps it, and it can't remain in place.
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15 He leans on his web, but it gives way; he clings to it, but it does not hold.
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16 It's like a well-watered plant in the sun; its runners spread over its gardens.
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16 He is like a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden;
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17 Its roots are entwined over a pile of rocks, for it sees a home among stones.
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17 it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks and looks for a place among the stones.
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18 If it's uprooted from its place, it lies, saying, "I can't see you."
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18 But when it is torn from its spot, that place disowns it and says, 'I never saw you.'
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19 Surely its way is a joy, for from the dust other plants sprout.
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19 Surely its life withers away, and from the soil other plants grow.
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20 Surely God won't reject integrity, won't strengthen the hand of the wicked.
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20 "Surely God does not reject a blameless man or strengthen the hands of evildoers.
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21 He will still fill your mouth with joy, your lips with a victorious shout.
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21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.
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22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will vanish.
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22 Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tents of the wicked will be no more."
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| Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible (Common English 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) |
