| World English Bible (WEB) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
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1 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
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2 "How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty 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 pervert righteousness?
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3 Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
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4 If your children have sinned against him, He has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience;
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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 want to seek God diligently, Make your supplication to 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 were pure and upright, Surely now he would awaken for you, And make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.
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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 Though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would greatly increase.
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7 Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.
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8 "Please inquire of past generations, Find out about the learning of their fathers.
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8 "Ask the former generations and find out what their fathers learned,
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9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, 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 Shall they not teach you, tell you, And utter words out of their heart?
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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 "Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow 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 it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, It withers before any other reed.
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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. The hope of the godless man shall perish,
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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 shall break apart, Whose trust is 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 shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand. He shall cling to it, but it shall not endure.
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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 He is green before the sun, His shoots go forth over his garden.
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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 His roots are wrapped around the rock pile, He sees the place of 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 he is destroyed from his place, Then it shall deny him, saying, 'I have not seen 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 Behold, this is the joy of his way: Out of the earth shall others spring.
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19 Surely its life withers away, and from the soil other plants grow.
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20 "Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, Neither will he uphold the evil-doers.
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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 laughter, Your lips with shouting.
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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 shall be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked shall be no more."
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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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| The World English Bible is in the public domain. (The World English Bible Online) |
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) |
