| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Then Bildad the Shuhite replied: | 1Then Bildad the Shuhite replied: |
| 2“How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind. | 2How long will you go on saying these things? Your words are a blast of wind. |
| 3Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right? | 3Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right? |
| 4When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion. | 4Since your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion. |
| 5But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy, | 5But if you earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy, |
| 6if you are pure and upright, even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf and restore your righteous estate. | 6if you are pure and upright, then He will move even now on your behalf and restore the home where your righteousness dwells. |
| 7Though your beginnings were modest, your latter days will flourish. | 7Then, even if your beginnings were modest, your final days will be full of prosperity. |
| 8Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers. | 8For ask the previous generation, and pay attention to what their fathers discovered, |
| 9For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow. | 9since we were born only yesterday and know nothing. Our days on earth are but a shadow. |
| 10Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak from their understanding? | 10Will they not teach you and tell you and speak from their understanding? |
| 11Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water? | 11Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water? |
| 12While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up quicker than grass. | 12While still uncut shoots, they would dry up quicker than any other plant. |
| 13Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish. | 13Such is the destiny of all who forget God; the hope of the godless will perish. |
| 14His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web. | 14His source of confidence is fragile; what he trusts in is a spider's web. |
| 15He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure. | 15He leans on his web, but it doesn't stand firm. He grabs it, but it does not hold up. |
| 16He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden. | 16He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine; his shoots spread out over his garden. |
| 17His roots wrap around the rock heap; he looks for a home among the stones. | 17His roots are intertwined around a pile of rocks. He looks for a home among the stones. |
| 18If he is uprooted from his place, it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’ | 18If he is uprooted from his place, it will deny knowing him, saying, "I never saw you." |
| 19Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust. | 19Surely this is the joy of his way of life; yet others will sprout from the dust. |
| 20Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers. | 20Look, God does not reject a person of integrity, and He will not support evildoers. |
| 21He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy. | 21He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with a shout of joy. |
| 22Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.” | 22Your enemies will be clothed with shame; the tent of the wicked will exist no longer. |
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