| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1“Call now; is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn? | 1"Call if you will, but who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn? |
| 2Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple. | 2Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple. |
| 3I have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his dwelling. | 3I myself have seen a fool taking root, but suddenly his house was cursed. |
| 4His children are far from safety; they are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them. | 4His children are far from safety, crushed in court without a defender. |
| 5The hungry eat his harvest, and he takes it even out of thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth. | 5The hungry consume his harvest, taking it even from among thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth. |
| 6For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground, | 6For hardship does not spring from the soil, nor does trouble sprout from the ground. |
| 7but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward. | 7Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward. |
| 8“As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, | 8"But if I were you, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him. |
| 9who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number: | 9He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. |
| 10he gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields; | 10He provides rain for the earth; he sends water on the countryside. |
| 11he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. | 11The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. |
| 12He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. | 12He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. |
| 13He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end. | 13He catches the wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are swept away. |
| 14They meet with darkness in the daytime and grope at noonday as in the night. | 14Darkness comes upon them in the daytime; at noon they grope as in the night. |
| 15But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth and from the hand of the mighty. | 15He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth; he saves them from the clutches of the powerful. |
| 16So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth. | 16So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth. |
| 17“Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty. | 17"Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. |
| 18For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal. | 18For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal. |
| 19He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil shall touch you. | 19From six calamities he will rescue you; in seven no harm will touch you. |
| 20In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword. | 20In famine he will deliver you from death, and in battle from the stroke of the sword. |
| 21You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes. | 21You will be protected from the lash of the tongue, and need not fear when destruction comes. |
| 22At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the beasts of the earth. | 22You will laugh at destruction and famine, and need not fear the wild animals. |
| 23For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you. | 23For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you. |
| 24You shall know that your tent is at peace, and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing. | 24You will know that your tent is secure; you will take stock of your property and find nothing missing. |
| 25You shall know also that your offspring shall be many, and your descendants as the grass of the earth. | 25You will know that your children will be many, and your descendants like the grass of the earth. |
| 26You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, like a sheaf gathered up in its season. | 26You will come to the grave in full vigor, like sheaves gathered in season. |
| 27Behold, this we have searched out; it is true. Hear, and know it for your good.” | 27"We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it and apply it to yourself." |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. 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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