International Standard Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
1Then in response, Bildad from Shuah said: | 1Then Bildad the Shuhite answered, |
2"How long will you keep talking like this? How long will you keep talking like a wind storm? | 2"How long will you say these things, And the words of your mouth be a mighty wind? |
3Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what's right? | 3"Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right? |
4"If your children sin against him, he'll make them a prisoner of their sins. | 4"If your sons sinned against Him, Then He delivered them into the power of their transgression. |
5If you seek God, if you ask the Almighty for mercy, | 5"If you would seek God And implore the compassion of the Almighty, |
6if you are clean and upright, surely then, he'll act on your behalf and restore your rightful place. | 6If you are pure and upright, Surely now He would rouse Himself for you And restore your righteous estate. |
7Your beginning may be small, but later years will be very great. | 7"Though your beginning was insignificant, Yet your end will increase greatly. |
8"Inquire of the previous generation, won't you please? Consider what their forefathers searched out. | 8"Please inquire of past generations, And consider the things searched out by their fathers. |
9Because we are of yesterday and we know nothing, for our time on earth is only a shadow. | 9"For we are only of yesterday and know nothing, Because our days on earth are as a shadow. |
10Won't they instruct you, and tell you, and bring out words from the heart? | 10"Will they not teach you and tell you, And bring forth words from their minds? |
11"Can papyrus grow where there's no marsh? Can reeds flourish without water? | 11"Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the rushes grow without water? |
12While they are still green and not yet ready to be harvested, they wither before any plant. | 12"While it is still green and not cut down, Yet it withers before any other plant. |
13Such are the paths of everyone who forgets God— the hope of the godless will be destroyed: | 13"So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the godless will perish, |
14his confidence is shattered; his trust is in a spider's web. | 14Whose confidence is fragile, And whose trust a spider's web. |
15He leans against his house, but it won't stand; he grabs hold of it firmly, but it doesn't last. | 15"He trusts in his house, but it does not stand; He holds fast to it, but it does not endure. |
16He is a fresh sapling planted in the sunlight, spreading out its branches over its garden. | 16"He thrives before the sun, And his shoots spread out over his garden. |
17Its roots weave around a pile of stones, seeking to entrench itself among the rocks. | 17"His roots wrap around a rock pile, He grasps a house of stones. |
18If he is uprooted from his place, then it will deny him: 'I never saw you.' | 18"If he is removed from his place, Then it will deny him, saying, 'I never saw you.' |
19"Indeed, this is the benefit of God's way: from the soil other plants will sprout. | 19"Behold, this is the joy of His way; And out of the dust others will spring. |
20Surely God won't reject those who are blameless or hold hands with those who practice evil. | 20"Lo, God will not reject a man of integrity, Nor will He support the evildoers. |
21He will soon fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips will shout with joy. | 21"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter And your lips with shouting. |
22Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will no longer exist. | 22"Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, And the tent of the wicked will be no longer." |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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