King James Bible | Berean Study Bible |
1Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, | 1Then Bildad the Shuhite replied: |
2How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind? | 2“How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind. |
3Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice? | 3Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right? |
4If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression; | 4When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion. |
5If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; | 5But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy, |
6If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. | 6if you are pure and upright, even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf and restore your righteous estate. |
7Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. | 7Though your beginnings were modest, your latter days will flourish. |
8For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers: | 8Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers. |
9(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:) | 9For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow. |
10Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart? | 10Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak from their understanding? |
11Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water? | 11Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water? |
12Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb. | 12While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up quicker than grass. |
13So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish: | 13Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish. |
14Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web. | 14His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web. |
15He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure. | 15He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure. |
16He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden. | 16He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden. |
17His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones. | 17His roots wrap around the rock heap; he looks for a home among the stones. |
18If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee. | 18If he is uprooted from his place, it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’ |
19Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow. | 19Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust. |
20Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers: | 20Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers. |
21Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing. | 21He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy. |
22They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought. | 22Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.” |
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