| English Standard Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1“Call now; is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn? | 1Call out! Will anyone answer you? Which of the holy ones will you turn to? |
| 2Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple. | 2For anger kills a fool, and jealousy slays the gullible. |
| 3I have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his dwelling. | 3I have seen a fool taking root, but I immediately pronounced a curse on his home. |
| 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. They are crushed at the city gate, with no one to rescue them. |
| 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, even taking it out of the thorns. The thirsty pant for his children's wealth. |
| 6For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground, | 6For distress does not grow out of the soil, and trouble does not sprout from the ground. |
| 7but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward. | 7But humans are born for trouble as surely as sparks fly upward. |
| 8“As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, | 8However, if I were you, I would appeal to God and would present my case to him. |
| 9who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number: | 9He does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number. |
| 10he gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields; | 10He gives rain to the earth and sends water to the fields. |
| 11he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. | 11He sets the lowly on high, and mourners are lifted to safety. |
| 12He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. | 12He frustrates the schemes of the crafty so that they achieve no success. |
| 13He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end. | 13He traps the wise in their craftiness so that the plans of the deceptive are quickly brought to an end. |
| 14They meet with darkness in the daytime and grope at noonday as in the night. | 14They encounter darkness by day, and they grope at noon as if it were night. |
| 15But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth and from the hand of the mighty. | 15He saves the needy from their sharp words and 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. | 17See how happy is the person whom God corrects; so do not reject the discipline of the Almighty. |
| 18For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal. | 18For he wounds but he also bandages; he strikes, but his hands also heal. |
| 19He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil shall touch you. | 19He will rescue you from six calamities; no harm will touch you in seven. |
| 20In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword. | 20In famine he will redeem you from death, and in battle, from the power of the sword. |
| 21You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes. | 21You will be safe from slander and not fear destruction when it comes. |
| 22At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the beasts of the earth. | 22You will laugh at destruction and hunger and not fear the land's wild creatures. |
| 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, and nothing will be missing when you inspect your home. |
| 25You shall know also that your offspring shall be many, and your descendants as the grass of the earth. | 25You will also know that your offspring 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 approach the grave in full vigor, as a stack of sheaves is gathered in its season. |
| 27Behold, this we have searched out; it is true. Hear, and know it for your good.” | 27We have investigated this, and it is true! Hear it and understand it for 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. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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