| English Standard Version | Berean Standard Bible |
| 1Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: | 1Then Bildad the Shuhite replied: |
| 2“How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind? | 2“How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind. |
| 3Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right? | 3Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right? |
| 4If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression. | 4When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion. |
| 5If you will seek God and plead with the Almighty for mercy, | 5But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy, |
| 6if you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and restore your rightful habitation. | 6if you are pure and upright, even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf and restore your righteous estate. |
| 7And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great. | 7Though your beginnings were modest, your latter days will flourish. |
| 8“For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out. | 8Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers. |
| 9For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow. | 9For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow. |
| 10Will they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their understanding? | 10Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak from their understanding? |
| 11“Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish where there is no water? | 11Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water? |
| 12While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant. | 12While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up more quickly than grass. |
| 13Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish. | 13Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish. |
| 14His confidence is severed, and his trust is a spider’s web. | 14His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web. |
| 15He leans against his house, but it does not stand; he lays hold of it, but it does not endure. | 15He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure. |
| 16He is a lush plant before the sun, and his shoots spread over his garden. | 16He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden. |
| 17His roots entwine the stone heap; he looks upon a house of stones. | 17His roots wrap around the rock heap; he looks for a home among the stones. |
| 18If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have never seen you.’ | 18If he is uprooted from his place, it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’ |
| 19Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the soil others will spring. | 19Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust. |
| 20“Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers. | 20Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers. |
| 21He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting. | 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 tent of the wicked will be no more.” | 22Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.” |
| 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. | This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain. |
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