New American Standard Bible 1995 | NET Bible |
1Then Bildad the Shuhite answered, | 1Then Bildad the Shuhite spoke up and said: |
2"How long will you say these things, And the words of your mouth be a mighty wind? | 2"How long will you speak these things, seeing that the words of your mouth are like a great wind? |
3"Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right? | 3Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right? |
4"If your sons sinned against Him, Then He delivered them into the power of their transgression. | 4If your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin. |
5"If you would seek God And implore the compassion of the Almighty, | 5But if you will look to God, and make your supplication to the Almighty, |
6If you are pure and upright, Surely now He would rouse Himself for you And restore your righteous estate. | 6if you become pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself for you, and will restore your righteous abode. |
7"Though your beginning was insignificant, Yet your end will increase greatly. | 7Your beginning will seem so small, since your future will flourish. |
8"Please inquire of past generations, And consider the things searched out by their fathers. | 8"For inquire now of the former generation, and pay attention to the findings of their ancestors; |
9"For we are only of yesterday and know nothing, Because our days on earth are as a shadow. | 9For we were born yesterday and do not have knowledge, since our days on earth are but a shadow. |
10"Will they not teach you and tell you, And bring forth words from their minds? | 10Will they not instruct you and speak to you, and bring forth words from their understanding? |
11"Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the rushes grow without water? | 11Can the papyrus plant grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish without water? |
12"While it is still green and not cut down, Yet it withers before any other plant. | 12While they are still beginning to flower and not ripe for cutting, they can wither away faster than any grass! |
13"So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the godless will perish, | 13Such is the destiny of all who forget God; the hope of the godless perishes, |
14Whose confidence is fragile, And whose trust a spider's web. | 14whose trust is in something futile, whose security 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. | 15He leans against his house but it does not hold up, he takes hold of it but it does not stand. |
16"He thrives before the sun, And his shoots spread out over his garden. | 16He is a well-watered plant in the sun, its shoots spread over its garden. |
17"His roots wrap around a rock pile, He grasps a house of stones. | 17It wraps its roots around a heap of stones and it looks for a place among stones. |
18"If he is removed from his place, Then it will deny him, saying, 'I never saw you.' | 18If he is uprooted from his place, then that place will disown him, saying, 'I have never seen you!' |
19"Behold, this is the joy of His way; And out of the dust others will spring. | 19Indeed, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth others spring up. |
20"Lo, God will not reject a man of integrity, Nor will He support the evildoers. | 20"Surely, God does not reject a blameless man, nor does he grasp the hand of the evildoers. |
21"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter And your lips with shouting. | 21He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with gladness. |
22"Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, And the tent of the wicked will be no longer." | 22Those 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, 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 | NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved. |
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