King James Version KJV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
1
Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:
2 How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?
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"How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind?
3 Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
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Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?
4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;
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If your children sinned against him, he delivered them into the power of their transgression.
5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
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If you will seek God and make supplication to the Almighty,
6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
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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 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
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Though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great.
8 For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
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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, because our days upon 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 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
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Will they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their understanding?
11 Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
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"Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish where there is no water?
12 Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.
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While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant.
13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:
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Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish.
14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.
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Their confidence is gossamer, a spider's house their trust.
15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall 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 green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.
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The wicked thrive before the sun, and their shoots spread over the garden.
17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.
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Their roots twine around the stoneheap; they live among the rocks.
18 If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.
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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 earth shall others grow.
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See, these are their happy ways, and out of the earth still others will spring.
20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:
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"See, God will not reject a blameless person, nor take the hand of evildoers.
21 Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.
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He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouts of joy.
22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.
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Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more."
The King James Version is in the public domain.
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.