| kjv | web | basic | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, | Then Bildad the Shuhite answered, | Then Bildad the Shuhite made answer and said, | ||
| 2. | How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind? | "How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind? | How long will you say these things, and how long will the words of your mouth be like a strong wind? | ||
| 3. | Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice? | Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness? | Does God give wrong decisions? or is the Ruler of all not upright in his judging? | ||
| 4. | If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression; | If your children have sinned against him, He has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience. | If your children have done evil against him, then their punishment is from his hand. | ||
| 5. | If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; | If you want to seek God diligently, make your supplication to the Almighty. | If you will make search for God with care, and put your request before the Ruler of all; | ||
| 6. | If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. | If you were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous. | If you are clean and upright; then he will certainly be moved to take up your cause, and will make clear your righteousness by building up your house again. | ||
| 7. | Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. | Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase. | And though your start was small, your end will be very great. | ||
| 8. | For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers: | "Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers. | Put the question now to the past generations, and give attention to what has been searched out by their fathers: | ||
| 9. | (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:) | (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.) | (For we are but of yesterday, and have no knowledge, because our days on earth are gone like a shade:) | ||
| 10. | Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart? | Shall they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of their heart? | Will they not give you teaching, and say words of wisdom to you? | ||
| 11. | Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water? | "Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water? | Will the river-plant come up in its pride without wet earth? will the grass get tall without water? | ||
| 12. | Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb. | While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed. | When it is still green, without being cut down, it becomes dry and dead before any other plant. | ||
| 13. | So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish: | So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man shall perish, | So is the end of all who do not keep God in mind; and the hope of the evil-doer comes to nothing: | ||
| 14. | Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web. | Whose confidence shall break apart, Whose trust is a spider's web. | Whose support is cut off, and whose hope is no stronger than a spider's thread. | ||
| 15. | He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure. | He shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand. He shall cling to it, but it shall not endure. | He is looking to his family for support, but it is not there; he puts his hope in it, but it comes to nothing. | ||
| 16. | He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden. | He is green before the sun. His shoots go forth over his garden. | He is full of strength before the sun, and his branches go out over his garden. | ||
| 17. | His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones. | His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of stones. | His roots are twisted round the stones, forcing their way in between them. | ||
| 18. | If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee. | If he is destroyed from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, 'I have not seen you.' | If he is taken away from his place, then it will say, I have not seen you. | ||
| 19. | Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow. | Behold, this is the joy of his way: out of the earth, others shall spring. | Such is the joy of his way, and out of the dust another comes up to take his place. | ||
| 20. | Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers: | "Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers. | Truly, God will not give up him who is without sin, and will not take evil-doers by the hand. | ||
| 21. | Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing. | He will still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting. | The time will come when your mouth will be full of laughing, and cries of joy will come from your lips. | ||
| 22. | They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought. | Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked shall be no more." | Your haters will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the sinner will not be seen again. | ||