King James Version KJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
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 have sinned against him, he has 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 reward you with a rightful habitation.
7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
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And 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, I pray you, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers 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 know nothing, for our days on earth are 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 man shall perish.
14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.
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His confidence breaks in sunder, and his trust is a spider's web.
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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He leans against his house, but it does not stand; he lays hold of it, but it does not endure.
16 He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.
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He thrives before the sun, and his shoots spread over his garden.
17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.
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His roots twine about the stoneheap; he lives 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 he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, 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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Behold, this is the joy of his way; and out of the earth others will spring.
20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:
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"Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, 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 shouting.
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.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.