| NET Bible | English Standard Version |
| 1"Call now! Is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn? | 1“Call now; is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn? |
| 2For wrath kills the foolish person, and anger slays the silly one. | 2Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple. |
| 3I myself have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his place of residence. | 3I have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his dwelling. |
| 4His children are far from safety, and they are crushed at the place where judgment is rendered, nor is there anyone to deliver them. | 4His children are far from safety; they are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them. |
| 5The hungry eat up his harvest, and take it even from behind the thorns, and the thirsty swallow up their fortune. | 5The hungry eat his harvest, and he takes it even out of thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth. |
| 6For evil does not come up from the dust, nor does trouble spring up from the ground, | 6For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground, |
| 7but people are born to trouble, as surely as the sparks fly upward. | 7but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward. |
| 8"But as for me, I would seek God, and to God I would set forth my case. | 8“As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, |
| 9He does great and unsearchable things, marvelous things without number; | 9who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number: |
| 10he gives rain on the earth, and sends water on the fields; | 10he gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields; |
| 11he sets the lowly on high, that those who mourn are raised to safety. | 11he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. |
| 12He frustrates the plans of the crafty so that their hands cannot accomplish what they had planned! | 12He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. |
| 13He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the cunning is brought to a quick end. | 13He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end. |
| 14They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope about in the noontime as if it were night. | 14They meet with darkness in the daytime and grope at noonday as in the night. |
| 15So he saves from the sword that comes from their mouth, even the poor from the hand of the powerful. | 15But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth and from the hand of the mighty. |
| 16Thus the poor have hope, and iniquity shuts its mouth. | 16So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth. |
| 17"Therefore, blessed is the man whom God corrects, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. | 17“Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty. |
| 18For he wounds, but he also bandages; he strikes, but his hands also heal. | 18For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal. |
| 19He will deliver you from six calamities; yes, in seven no evil will touch you. | 19He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil shall touch you. |
| 20In time of famine he will redeem you from death, and in time of war from the power of the sword. | 20In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword. |
| 21You will be protected from malicious gossip, and will not be afraid of the destruction when it comes. | 21You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes. |
| 22You will laugh at destruction and famine and need not be afraid of the beasts of the earth. | 22At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the beasts of the earth. |
| 23For you will have a pact with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you. | 23For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you. |
| 24And you will know that your home will be secure, and when you inspect your domains, you will not be missing anything. | 24You shall know that your tent is at peace, and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing. |
| 25You will also know that your children will be numerous, and your descendants like the grass of the earth. | 25You shall know also that your offspring shall be many, and your descendants as the grass of the earth. |
| 26You will come to your grave in a full age, As stacks of grain are harvested in their season. | 26You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, like a sheaf gathered up in its season. |
| 27Look, we have investigated this, so it is true. Hear it, and apply it for your own good." | 27Behold, this we have searched out; it is true. Hear, and know it for your good.” |
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