Online Bible

2 “How long will you say these things?And will the ^awords of your mouth be a mighty wind?3 “Does ^aGod pervert justice?Or does ¹the Almighty pervert righteousness?4 “^aIf your children have sinned against Him,Then He has handed them over to the power of their transgression and punished them.5 “If you would diligently ^aseek GodAnd implore the compassion and favor of the Almighty,6 Then, if you are pure and upright,Surely now ^aHe will awaken for youAnd restore your righteous ^bplace.7 “Though your beginning was insignificant,Yet your ^aend will greatly increase.

8 “^aInquire, please, of past generations,And consider and apply yourself to the things searched out by their fathers.9 “For we are only of yesterday and know nothing,Because ^aour days on earth are like a shadow just a breath or a vapor.10 “Will they (the fathers) not teach you and tell you,And utter words from their hearts the deepest part of their nature?

11 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?Can the rushes or reed grass grow without water?12 “While it is still green (in flower) and not cut down,Yet it withers before any other plant when without water.13 “So are the paths of ^aall who forget God;And the ^bhope of the godless will perish,14 For his confidence is fragile and breaks,And his trust is like a ^aspider’s web.15 “He trusts in his ^ahouse, but it does not stand;He holds tightly to it, but it does not endure.16 “He ^athrives and prospers like a green plant before the sun,And his ^bbranches spread out over his garden.17 “His godless roots are wrapped around a pile of rocks,And he gazes at a house of stones.18 “If he is snatched from ^ahis place in the garden,Then his place will forget him, saying, ‘^bI have never seen you.’19 “Behold, ^athis is the joy of His way;And from out of the dust others will spring up and grow to take his place.20 “Behold, ^aGod will not reject a man of integrity,Nor ^bwill He strengthen or support evildoers.21 “He will yet fill ^ayour mouth with laughterAnd your lips with joyful shouting if you are found blameless.22 “Those who hate you will be ^aclothed with shame,And the ^btents of the wicked will be no longer.”