New Revised Standard NRS
Common English Bible CEB
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:
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Bildad from Shuah responded:
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 mouth such things such that your utterances become a strong 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 distort what is right?
4 If your children sinned against him, he delivered them into the power of their transgression.
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If your children sinned against him, then he delivered them into the power of their rebellion.
5 If you will seek God and make supplication to the Almighty,
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If you will search eagerly for God, plead with the Almighty.
6 if you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and restore to you your rightful place.
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If you are pure and do the right thing, then surely he will become active on your behalf and reward your innocent dwelling.
7 Though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great.
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Although your former state was ordinary, your future will be extraordinary.
8 "For inquire now of bygone generations, and consider what their ancestors have found;
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Ask a previous generation and verify the findings of your ancestors,
9 for we are but of yesterday, and we know nothing, for our days on earth are but a shadow.
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for we are only recently here and don't know because our days on earth are a shadow.
10 Will they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their understanding?
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Won't they instruct you and tell you; will words not proceed from their hearts?
11 "Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish where there is no water?
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Does papyrus grow apart from a marsh? Does a reed flourish without water?
12 While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant.
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While still tender, uncut, it will wither before every other grass.
13 Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish.
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So are the paths of all who forget God. Hope perishes for the godless,
14 Their confidence is gossamer, a spider's house their trust.
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whose confidence is a fragile thing, their trust, a spider's web.
15 If one leans against its house, it will not stand; if one lays hold of it, it will not endure.
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He leans on its web, and it doesn't stand; grasps it, and it can't remain in place.
16 The wicked thrive before the sun, and their shoots spread over the garden.
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It's like a well-watered plant in the sun; its runners spread over its gardens.
17 Their roots twine around the stoneheap; they live among the rocks.
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Its roots are entwined over a pile of rocks, for it sees a home among stones.
18 If they are destroyed from their place, then it will deny them, saying, "I have never seen you.'
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If it's uprooted from its place, it lies, saying, "I can't see you."
19 See, these are their happy ways, and out of the earth still others will spring.
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Surely its way is a joy, for from the dust other plants sprout.
20 "See, God will not reject a blameless person, nor take the hand of evildoers.
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Surely God won't reject integrity, won't strengthen the hand of the wicked.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouts of joy.
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He will still fill your mouth with joy, your lips with a victorious shout.
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 vanish.
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.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible