New American Standard Bible NAS
English Standard Version ESV
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
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Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2 "How long will you say these things, And the words of your mouth be a mighty 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 what is right?
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Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?
4 "If your sons sinned against Him, Then He delivered them into the power of their transgression.
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If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression.
5 "If you would seek God And implore the compassion of the Almighty,
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If you will seek God and plead with the Almighty for mercy,
6 If you are pure and upright, Surely now He would rouse Himself for you And restore your righteous estate.
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if you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and restore your rightful habitation.
7 "Though your beginning was insignificant, Yet your end will increase greatly.
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And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great.
8 "Please inquire of past generations, And consider the things searched out by their fathers.
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"For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out.
9 "For we are only of yesterday and know nothing, Because our days on earth are as a shadow.
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For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow.
10 "Will they not teach you and tell you, And bring forth words from their minds?
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Will they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their understanding?
11 "Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the rushes grow without water?
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"Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish where there is no water?
12 "While it is still green and not cut down, Yet it withers before any other plant.
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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 who forget God; And the hope of the godless will perish,
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Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish.
14 Whose confidence is fragile, And whose trust a spider's web.
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His confidence is severed, and his trust is a spider's web.
15 "He trusts in his house, but it does not stand; He holds fast to it, but it does 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 thrives before the sun, And his shoots spread out over his garden.
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He is a lush plant before the sun, and his shoots spread over his garden.
17 "His roots wrap around a rock pile, He grasps a house of stones.
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His roots entwine the stone heap; he looks upon a house of stones.
18 "If he is removed from his place, Then it will deny him, saying, 'I never saw you.'
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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 dust others will spring.
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Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the soil others will spring.
20 "Lo, God will not reject a man of integrity, Nor will He support the evildoers.
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"Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, 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 shouting.
22 "Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, And the tent of the wicked will be no longer."
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Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more."
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California. All rights reserved.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.