English Standard Version ESV
New International Version NIV
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
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Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2 "How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind?
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“How long will you say such things? Your words are a blustering wind.
3 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?
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Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
4 If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression.
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When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.
5 If you will seek God and plead with the Almighty for mercy,
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But if you will seek God earnestly and plead with the Almighty,
6 if you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and restore your rightful habitation.
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if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your prosperous state.
7 And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great.
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Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.
8 "For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out.
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“Ask the former generation and find out what their ancestors learned,
9 For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow.
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for we were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow.
10 Will they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their understanding?
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Will they not instruct you and tell you? Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?
11 "Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish where there is no water?
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Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds thrive without water?
12 While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant.
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While still growing and uncut, they wither more quickly than grass.
13 Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish.
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Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless.
14 His confidence is severed, and his trust is a spider's web.
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What they trust in is fragile ; what they rely on is a spider’s web.
15 He leans against his house, but it does not stand; he lays hold of it, but it does not endure.
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They lean on the web, but it gives way; they cling to it, but it does not hold.
16 He is a lush plant before the sun, and his shoots spread over his garden.
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They are like a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden;
17 His roots entwine the stone heap; he looks upon a house of stones.
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it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks and looks for a place among the stones.
18 If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, 'I have never seen you.'
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But when it is torn from its spot, that place disowns it and says, ‘I never saw you.’
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the soil others will spring.
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Surely its life withers away, and from the soil other plants grow.
20 "Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers.
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“Surely God does not reject one who is blameless or strengthen the hands of evildoers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting.
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He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.
22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more."
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Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tents of the wicked will be no more.”
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.