The Message Bible MSG
World English Bible WEB
1 Bildad from Shuhah was next to speak:
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Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
2 "How can you keep on talking like this? You're talking nonsense, and noisy nonsense at that.
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"How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
3 Does God mess up? Does God Almighty ever get things backwards?
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Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
4 It's plain that your children sinned against him - otherwise, why would God have punished them?
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If your children have sinned against him, He has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience;
5 Here's what you must do - and don't put it off any longer: Get down on your knees before God Almighty.
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If you want to seek God diligently, Make your supplication to the Almighty.
6 If you're as innocent and upright as you say, it's not too late - he'll come running; he'll set everything right again, reestablish your fortunes.
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If you were pure and upright, Surely now he would awaken for you, And make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.
7 Even though you're not much right now, you'll end up better than ever. To Hang Your Life from One Thin Thread
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Though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would greatly increase.
8 "Put the question to our ancestors, study what they learned from their ancestors.
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"Please inquire of past generations, Find out about the learning of their fathers.
9 For we're newcomers at this, with a lot to learn, and not too long to learn it.
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(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days on earth are a shadow.)
10 So why not let the ancients teach you, tell you what's what, instruct you in what they knew from experience?
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Shall they not teach you, tell you, And utter words out of their heart?
11 Can mighty pine trees grow tall without soil? Can luscious tomatoes flourish without water?
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"Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?
12 Blossoming flowers look great before they're cut or picked, but without soil or water they wither more quickly than grass.
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While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, It withers before any other reed.
13 That's what happens to all who forget God - all their hopes come to nothing.
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So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man shall perish,
14 They hang their life from one thin thread, they hitch their fate to a spider web.
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Whose confidence shall break apart, Whose trust is a spider's web.
15 One jiggle and the thread breaks, one jab and the web collapses.
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He shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand. He shall cling to it, but it shall not endure.
16 Or they're like weeds springing up in the sunshine, invading the garden,
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He is green before the sun, His shoots go forth over his garden.
17 Spreading everywhere, overtaking the flowers, getting a foothold even in the rocks.
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His roots are wrapped around the rock pile, He sees the place of stones.
18 But when the gardener rips them out by the roots, the garden doesn't miss them one bit.
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If he is destroyed from his place, Then it shall deny him, saying, 'I have not seen you.'
19 The sooner the godless are gone, the better; then good plants can grow in their place.
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Behold, this is the joy of his way: Out of the earth shall others spring.
20 "There's no way that God will reject a good person, and there is no way he'll help a bad one.
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"Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, Neither will he uphold the evil-doers.
21 God will let you laugh again; you'll raise the roof with shouts of joy,
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He will still fill your mouth with laughter, Your lips with shouting.
22 With your enemies thoroughly discredited, their house of cards collapsed."
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Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked shall be no more."