New Revised Standard NRS
Common English Bible CEB
1 "Call now; is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?
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Call out. Will anyone answer you? To which holy one will you turn?
2 Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.
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Surely anger can kill the foolish; fury can kill the simple.
3 I have seen fools taking root, but suddenly I cursed their dwelling.
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I've seen the foolish take root and promptly curse their house.
4 Their 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, crushed in the gate without a deliverer.
5 The hungry eat their harvest, and they take it even out of the thorns; and the thirsty pant after their wealth.
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The hungry devour their crops; it's taken even from the thorns, and the thirsty pant after their yield.
6 For misery does not come from the earth, nor does trouble sprout from the ground;
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Surely trouble doesn't come from dust, nor does distress sprout from the ground.
7 but human beings are born to trouble just as sparks fly upward.
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Surely humans are born to distress, just as sparks rise up.
8 "As for me, I would seek God, and to God I would commit my cause.
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But I would seek God, put my case to God,
9 He does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number.
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who does great things beyond comprehension, wonderful things without number;
10 He gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields;
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who provides rain over the earth's surface, sends water to the open country,
11 he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
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exalts the lowly, raises mourners to victory;
12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.
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who frustrates the schemes of the clever so that their hands achieve no success,
13 He takes the wise in their own craftiness; and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.
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trapping the wise in their cleverness so that the plans of the devious don't succeed.
14 They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope at noonday as in the night.
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They encounter darkness during the day, and at noon they fumble about as at night.
15 But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth, from the hand of the mighty.
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Yet he rescues the orphan from the sword of their mouth, the needy from the grip of the strong;
16 So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.
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so the poor have hope and violence shuts its mouth.
17 "How happy is the one whom God reproves; therefore do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
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Look, happy is the person whom God corrects; so don't reject the Almighty's instruction.
18 For he wounds, but he binds up; he strikes, but his hands heal.
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He injures, but he binds up; he strikes, but his hands heal.
19 He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no harm shall touch you.
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From six adversities he will deliver you; from seven harm won't 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 ransom you from death; in war, from the power of the sword.
21 You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes.
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You will be hidden from the tongue's sting, and you won't fear destruction when it comes.
22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the wild animals of the earth.
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You will laugh at destruction and hunger; you won't be afraid of wild beasts;
23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the wild animals shall be at peace with you.
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for you will make an agreement with the stones of the field; and the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.
24 You shall know that your tent is safe, you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.
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You will know that your tent is secure. You will examine your home and miss nothing.
25 You shall know that your descendants will be many, and your offspring like the grass of the earth.
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You will know that you'll have many children. Your offspring will be like the grass of the earth.
26 You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, as a shock of grain comes up to the threshing floor in its season.
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You will come to your grave in old age as bundles of grain stacked up at harvesttime.
27 See, we have searched this out; it is true. Hear, and know it for yourself."
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Look, we've searched this out, and so it is; listen and find out for yourself.
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.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible