NET Bible | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
1Then Bildad the Shuhite spoke up and said: | 1Then Bildad the Shuhite answered, |
2"How long will you speak these things, seeing that the words of your mouth are like a great wind? | 2"How long will you say these things, And the words of your mouth be a mighty wind? |
3Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right? | 3"Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right? |
4If your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin. | 4"If your sons sinned against Him, Then He delivered them into the power of their transgression. |
5But if you will look to God, and make your supplication to the Almighty, | 5"If you would seek God And implore the compassion of the Almighty, |
6if you become pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself for you, and will restore your righteous abode. | 6If you are pure and upright, Surely now He would rouse Himself for you And restore your righteous estate. |
7Your beginning will seem so small, since your future will flourish. | 7"Though your beginning was insignificant, Yet your end will increase greatly. |
8"For inquire now of the former generation, and pay attention to the findings of their ancestors; | 8"Please inquire of past generations, And consider the things searched out by their fathers. |
9For we were born yesterday and do not have knowledge, since our days on earth are but a shadow. | 9"For we are only of yesterday and know nothing, Because our days on earth are as a shadow. |
10Will they not instruct you and speak to you, and bring forth words from their understanding? | 10"Will they not teach you and tell you, And bring forth words from their minds? |
11Can the papyrus plant grow tall where there is 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 beginning to flower and not ripe for cutting, they can wither away faster than any grass! | 12"While it is still green and not cut down, Yet it withers before any other plant. |
13Such is the destiny of all who forget God; the hope of the godless perishes, | 13"So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the godless will perish, |
14whose trust is in something futile, whose security is a spider's web. | 14Whose confidence is fragile, And whose trust a spider's web. |
15He leans against his house but it does not hold up, he takes hold of it but it does not stand. | 15"He trusts in his house, but it does not stand; He holds fast to it, but it does not endure. |
16He is a well-watered plant in the sun, its shoots spread over its garden. | 16"He thrives before the sun, And his shoots spread out over his garden. |
17It wraps its roots around a heap of stones and it looks for a place among stones. | 17"His roots wrap around a rock pile, He grasps a house of stones. |
18If he is uprooted from his place, then that place will disown him, saying, 'I have never seen you!' | 18"If he is removed from his place, Then it will deny him, saying, 'I never saw you.' |
19Indeed, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth others spring up. | 19"Behold, this is the joy of His way; And out of the dust others will spring. |
20"Surely, God does not reject a blameless man, nor does he grasp the hand of the evildoers. | 20"Lo, God will not reject a man of integrity, Nor will He support the evildoers. |
21He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with gladness. | 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 be no more." | 22"Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, And the tent of the wicked will be no longer." |
NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved. | 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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