| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 1“Call out now; Is there anyone who will answer you? And 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? |
| 2For wrath kills a foolish man, And envy slays a simple one. | 2Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple. |
| 3I have seen the foolish taking root, But suddenly I cursed his dwelling place. | 3I myself have seen a fool taking root, but suddenly his house was cursed. |
| 4His sons are far from safety, They are crushed in the gate, And there is no deliverer. | 4His children are far from safety, crushed in court without a defender. |
| 5Because the hungry eat up his harvest, Taking it even from the thorns, And a snare snatches their substance. | 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 spring from the ground; | 6For hardship does not spring from the soil, nor does trouble sprout from the ground. |
| 7Yet man is born to trouble, As the sparks fly upward. | 7Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward. |
| 8“But as for me, I would seek God, And to God I would 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 cannot carry out their plans. | 12He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. |
| 13He catches the wise in their own craftiness, And the counsel of the cunning comes quickly upon them. | 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 noontime 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, From the mouth of the mighty, And from their hand. | 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, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. | 17"Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. |
| 18For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole. | 18For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal. |
| 19He shall deliver you in six troubles, Yes, in seven no evil shall touch you. | 19From six calamities he will rescue you; in seven no harm will touch you. |
| 20In famine He shall 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 scourge of the tongue, And you shall not be afraid of destruction when it comes. | 21You will be protected from the lash of the tongue, and need not fear when destruction comes. |
| 22You shall laugh at destruction and famine, And you shall not be afraid of the beasts of the earth. | 22You will laugh at destruction and famine, and need not fear the wild animals. |
| 23For you shall have a covenant 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 in peace; You shall visit your dwelling and find nothing amiss. | 24You will know that your tent is secure; you will take stock of your property and find nothing missing. |
| 25You shall also know that your descendants shall be many, And your offspring like 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 the grave at a full age, As a sheaf of grain ripens 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 it, and know for yourself.” | 27"We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it and apply it to yourself." |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. 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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