New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
1 "Call if you want to, Job, but no one will answer you. You can't turn to any of the holy ones.
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“Call if you will, but who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?
2 Anger kills the fool, and jealousy slays the stupid.
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Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.
3 I have seen a fool succeed, but I cursed his home immediately.
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I myself have seen a fool taking root, but suddenly his house was cursed.
4 His children are far from safety and are crushed in court with no defense.
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His children are far from safety, crushed in court without a defender.
5 The hungry eat his harvest, even taking what grew among the thorns, and thirsty people want his wealth.
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The hungry consume his harvest, taking it even from among thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth.
6 Hard times do not come up from the ground, and trouble does not grow from the earth.
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For hardship does not spring from the soil, nor does trouble sprout from the ground.
7 People produce trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.
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Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.
8 "But if I were you, I would call on God and bring my problem before him.
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“But if I were you, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him.
9 God does wonders that cannot be understood; he does so many miracles they cannot be counted.
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He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.
10 He gives rain to the earth and sends water on the fields.
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He provides rain for the earth; he sends water on the countryside.
11 He makes the humble person important and lifts the sad to places of safety.
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The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12 He ruins the plans of those who trick others so they have no success.
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He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.
13 He catches the wise in their own clever traps and sweeps away the plans of those who try to trick others.
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He catches the wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are swept away.
14 Darkness covers them up in the daytime; even at noon they feel around in the dark.
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Darkness comes upon them in the daytime; at noon they grope as in the night.
15 God saves the needy from their lies and from the harm done by powerful people.
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He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth; he saves them from the clutches of the powerful.
16 So the poor have hope, while those who are unfair are silenced.
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So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.
17 "The one whom God corrects is happy, so do not hate being corrected by the Almighty.
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“Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
18 God hurts, but he also bandages up; he injures, but his hands also heal.
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For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.
19 He will save you from six troubles; even seven troubles will not harm you.
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From six calamities he will rescue you; in seven no harm will touch you.
20 God will buy you back from death in times of hunger, and in battle he will save you from the sword.
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In famine he will deliver you from death, and in battle from the stroke of the sword.
21 You will be protected from the tongue that strikes like a whip, and you will not be afraid when destruction comes.
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You will be protected from the lash of the tongue, and need not fear when destruction comes.
22 You will laugh at destruction and hunger, and you will not fear the wild animals,
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You will laugh at destruction and famine, and need not fear the wild animals.
23 because you will have an agreement with the stones in the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you.
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For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you.
24 You will know that your tent is safe, because you will check the things you own and find nothing missing.
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You will know that your tent is secure; you will take stock of your property and find nothing missing.
25 You will know that you will have many children, and your descendants will be like the grass on the earth.
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You will know that your children will be many, and your descendants like the grass of the earth.
26 You will come to the grave with all your strength, like bundles of grain gathered at the right time.
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You will come to the grave in full vigor, like sheaves gathered in season.
27 "We have checked this, and it is true, so hear it and decide what it means to you."
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“We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it and apply it to yourself.”
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.