English Standard Version ESV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 “Call now; is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?
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"Call now; is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?
2 Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.
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Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.
3 I have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his dwelling.
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I have seen fools taking root, but suddenly I cursed their dwelling.
4 His children are far from safety; they are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them.
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Their children are far from safety, they are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them.
5 The hungry eat his harvest, and he takes it even out of thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth.
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The hungry eat their harvest, and they take it even out of the thorns; and the thirsty pant after their wealth.
6 For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground,
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For misery does not come from the earth, nor does trouble sprout from the ground;
7 but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.
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but human beings are born to trouble just as sparks fly upward.
8 “As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause,
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"As for me, I would seek God, and to God I would commit my cause.
9 who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number:
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He does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number.
10 he gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields;
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He gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields;
11 he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
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he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.
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He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.
13 He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.
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He takes the wise in their own craftiness; and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.
14 They meet with darkness in the daytime and grope at noonday as in the night.
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They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope at noonday as in the night.
15 But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth and from the hand of the mighty.
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But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth, from the hand of the mighty.
16 So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.
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So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.
17 “Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.
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"How happy is the one whom God reproves; therefore do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
18 For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal.
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For he wounds, but he binds up; he strikes, but his hands heal.
19 He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil shall touch you.
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He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no harm shall touch you.
20 In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword.
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In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword.
21 You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes.
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You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes.
22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the beasts of the earth.
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At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the wild animals of the earth.
23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.
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For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the wild animals shall be at peace with you.
24 You shall know that your tent is at peace, and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.
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You shall know that your tent is safe, you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.
25 You shall know also that your offspring shall be many, and your descendants as the grass of the earth.
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You shall know that your descendants will be many, and your offspring like the grass of the earth.
26 You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, like a sheaf gathered up in its season.
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You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, as a shock of grain comes up to the threshing floor in its season.
27 Behold, this we have searched out; it is true. Hear, and know it for your good. ”
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See, we have searched this out; it is true. Hear, and know it for yourself."
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.