New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:
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Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2 "How long will you say such things? Your words are no more than wind.
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“How long will you say such things? Your words are a blustering wind.
3 God does not twist justice; the Almighty does not make wrong what is right.
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Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
4 Your children sinned against God, and he punished them for their sins.
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When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.
5 But you should ask God for help and pray to the Almighty for mercy.
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But if you will seek God earnestly and plead with the Almighty,
6 If you are good and honest, he will stand up for you and bring you back where you belong.
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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 Where you began will seem unimportant, because your future will be so successful.
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Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.
8 "Ask old people; find out what their ancestors learned,
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“Ask the former generation and find out what their ancestors learned,
9 because we were only born yesterday and know nothing. Our days on earth are only 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 Those people will teach you and tell you and speak about what they know.
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Will they not instruct you and tell you? Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?
11 Papyrus plants cannot grow where there is no swamp, and reeds cannot grow tall without water.
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Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds thrive without water?
12 While they are still growing and not yet cut, they will dry up quicker than grass.
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While still growing and uncut, they wither more quickly than grass.
13 That is what will happen to those who forget God; the hope of the wicked will be gone.
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Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless.
14 What they hope in is easily broken; what they trust is like a spider's web.
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What they trust in is fragile ; what they rely on is a spider’s web.
15 They lean on the spider's web, but it breaks. They grab it, but it does not hold up.
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They lean on the web, but it gives way; they cling to it, but it does not hold.
16 They are like well-watered plants in the sunshine that spread their roots all through the garden.
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They are like a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden;
17 They wrap their roots around a pile of rocks and look for a place among the stones.
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it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks and looks for a place among the stones.
18 But if a plant is torn from its place, then that place rejects it and says, 'I never saw you.'
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But when it is torn from its spot, that place disowns it and says, ‘I never saw you.’
19 Now joy has gone away; other plants grow up from the same dirt.
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Surely its life withers away, and from the soil other plants grow.
20 "Surely God does not reject the innocent or give strength to those who do evil.
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“Surely God does not reject one who is blameless or strengthen the hands of evildoers.
21 God will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.
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He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.
22 Your enemies will be covered with shame, and the tents of the wicked will be gone."
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Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tents of the wicked will be no more.”
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.