| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 1Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: | 1Then Bildad the Shuhite replied: |
| 2“How long will you speak these things, And the words of your mouth be like a strong wind? | 2"How long will you say such things? Your words are a blustering wind. |
| 3Does God subvert judgment? Or does the Almighty pervert justice? | 3Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right? |
| 4If your sons have sinned against Him, He has cast them away for their transgression. | 4When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin. |
| 5If you would earnestly seek God And make your supplication to the Almighty, | 5But if you will seek God earnestly and plead with the Almighty, |
| 6If you were pure and upright, Surely now He would awake for you, And prosper your rightful dwelling place. | 6if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your prosperous state. |
| 7Though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would increase abundantly. | 7Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be. |
| 8“For inquire, please, of the former age, And consider the things discovered by their fathers; | 8"Ask the former generation and find out what their ancestors learned, |
| 9For we were born yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days on earth are a shadow. | 9for we were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow. |
| 10Will they not teach you and tell you, And utter words from their heart? | 10Will they not instruct you and tell you? Will they not bring forth words from their understanding? |
| 11“Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the reeds flourish without water? | 11Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds thrive without water? |
| 12While it is yet green and not cut down, It withers before any other plant. | 12While still growing and uncut, they wither more quickly than grass. |
| 13So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the hypocrite shall perish, | 13Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless. |
| 14Whose confidence shall be cut off, And whose trust is a spider’s web. | 14What they trust in is fragile; what they rely on is a spider's web. |
| 15He leans on his house, but it does not stand. He holds it fast, but it does not endure. | 15They lean on the web, but it gives way; they cling to it, but it does not hold. |
| 16He grows green in the sun, And his branches spread out in his garden. | 16They are like a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden; |
| 17His roots wrap around the rock heap, And look for a place in the stones. | 17it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks and looks for a place among the stones. |
| 18If he is destroyed from his place, Then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’ | 18But when it is torn from its spot, that place disowns it and says, 'I never saw you.' |
| 19“Behold, this is the joy of His way, And out of the earth others will grow. | 19Surely its life withers away, and from the soil other plants grow. |
| 20Behold, God will not cast away the blameless, Nor will He uphold the evildoers. | 20"Surely God does not reject one who is blameless or strengthen the hands of evildoers. |
| 21He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, And your lips with rejoicing. | 21He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. |
| 22Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, And the dwelling place of the wicked will come to nothing.” | 22Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tents of the wicked will be no more." |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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