Online Bible

2 “How long will you say these things,And the ^awords of your mouth be a mighty wind?3 “Does ^aGod pervert justice?Or does ¹the Almighty pervert what is right?4 “^aIf your sons sinned against Him,Then He sent them into the ¹power of their transgression.5 “If you would ^aseek God earnestlyAnd plead for the grace of ¹the Almighty,6 If you are pure and upright,Indeed now ^aHe would rouse Himself for youAnd make your righteous ^babode at peace.7 “Though your beginning was insignificant,Yet your ^aend will increase greatly.

8 “Please ^aask of past generations,And establish the things searched out by their fathers.9 “For we are only of yesterday and know nothing,Because ^aour days on earth are but a shadow.10 “Will they not instruct you and tell you,And bring forth words from their hearts?

11 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?Can the rushes grow without water?12 “While it is still green and not cut down,Yet it dries up before any other ¹plant.13 “So are the paths of ^aall who forget God;And the ^bhope of the godless will perish,14 Whose confidence is fragile,And whose trust a ^aspider’s ¹web.15 “He relies on his ^ahouse, but it does not stand;He holds fast to it, but it is not established.16 “He ¹^athrives before the sun,And his ^bshoots go forth over his garden.17 “His roots wrap around a rock pile;He looks upon a house of stones.18 “If He swallows him up from ^ahis place,Then it will deny him, saying, ‘^bI never saw you.’19 “Behold, ^athis is the joy of ¹His way;And out of the dust others will spring.20 “Behold, ^aGod will not reject a blameless man,Nor ^bwill He strengthen the hand of the evildoers.21 “He will yet fill ^ayour mouth with laughterAnd your lips with shouting.22 “Those who hate you will be ^aclothed with shame,And the ^btent of the wicked will be no longer.”