English Standard Version ESV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
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Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:
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 these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind?
3 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?
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Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?
4 If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression.
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If your children sinned against him, he delivered them into the power of their transgression.
5 If you will seek God and plead with the Almighty for mercy,
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If you will seek God and make supplication to 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, surely then he will rouse himself for you and restore to you your rightful place.
7 And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great.
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Though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great.
8 “For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out.
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"For inquire now of bygone generations, and consider what their ancestors have found;
9 For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow.
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for we are but of yesterday, and we know nothing, for 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 teach you and tell you and utter words out of 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 where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish where there is no water?
12 While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant.
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While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant.
13 Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish.
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Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish.
14 His confidence is severed, and his trust is a spider’s web.
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Their confidence is gossamer, a spider's house their trust.
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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If one leans against its house, it will not stand; if one lays hold of it, it will not endure.
16 He is a lush plant before the sun, and his shoots spread over his garden.
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The wicked thrive before the sun, and their shoots spread over the garden.
17 His roots entwine the stone heap; he looks upon a house of stones.
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Their roots twine around the stoneheap; they live among the rocks.
18 If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have never seen you. ’
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If they are destroyed from their place, then it will deny them, saying, "I have never seen you.'
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the soil others will spring.
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See, these are their happy ways, and out of the earth still others will spring.
20 “Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers.
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"See, God will not reject a blameless person, nor take the hand 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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Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more."
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.