| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Then Bildad the Shuhite replied to Job: | 1Then Bildad the Shuhite replied: |
| 2“How long will you go on like this? You sound like a blustering wind. | 2“How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind. |
| 3Does God twist justice? Does the Almighty twist what is right? | 3Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right? |
| 4Your children must have sinned against him, so their punishment was well deserved. | 4When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion. |
| 5But if you pray to God and seek the favor of the Almighty, | 5But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy, |
| 6and if you are pure and live with integrity, he will surely rise up and restore your happy home. | 6if you are pure and upright, even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf and restore your righteous estate. |
| 7And though you started with little, you will end with much. | 7Though your beginnings were modest, your latter days will flourish. |
| 8“Just ask the previous generation. Pay attention to the experience of our ancestors. | 8Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers. |
| 9For we were born but yesterday and know nothing. Our days on earth are as fleeting as a shadow. | 9For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow. |
| 10But those who came before us will teach you. They will teach you the wisdom of old. | 10Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak from their understanding? |
| 11“Can papyrus reeds grow tall without a marsh? Can marsh grass flourish without water? | 11Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water? |
| 12While they are still flowering, not ready to be cut, they begin to wither more quickly than grass. | 12While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up quicker than grass. |
| 13The same happens to all who forget God. The hopes of the godless evaporate. | 13Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish. |
| 14Their confidence hangs by a thread. They are leaning on a spider’s web. | 14His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web. |
| 15They cling to their home for security, but it won’t last. They try to hold it tight, but it will not endure. | 15He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure. |
| 16The godless seem like a lush plant growing in the sunshine, its branches spreading across the garden. | 16He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden. |
| 17Its roots grow down through a pile of stones; it takes hold on a bed of rocks. | 17His roots wrap around the rock heap; he looks for a home among the stones. |
| 18But when it is uprooted, it’s as though it never existed! | 18If he is uprooted from his place, it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’ |
| 19That’s the end of its life, and others spring up from the earth to replace it. | 19Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust. |
| 20“But look, God will not reject a person of integrity, nor will he lend a hand to the wicked. | 20Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers. |
| 21He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. | 21He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy. |
| 22Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the home of the wicked will be destroyed.” | 22Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.” |
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