1 T hen Zophar the Naamathite replied,

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2 S hould not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be pronounced free from guilt or blame?

Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

3 S hould your boastings and babble make men keep silent? And when you mock and scoff, shall no man make you ashamed?

Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

4 F or you have said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in eyes.

For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

5 B ut oh, that God would speak, and open His lips against you,

But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

6 A nd that He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For He is manifold in understanding! Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your guilt and iniquity.

and that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

7 C an you find out the deep things of God, or can you by searching find out the limits of the Almighty ?

Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

8 H is wisdom is as high as the heights of heaven! What can you do? It is deeper than Sheol (the place of the dead)! What can you know?

It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

9 L onger in measure is it than the earth, and broader than the sea.

The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

10 I f sweeps in and arrests and calls into judgment, who can hinder Him?

If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

11 F or He recognizes and knows hollow, wicked, and useless men (men of falsehood); when He sees iniquity, will He not consider it?

For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

12 B ut a stupid man will get wisdom when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.

For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.

13 I f you set your heart aright and stretch out your hands to,

If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

14 I f you put sin out of your hand and far away from you and let not evil dwell in your tents;

if iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

15 T hen can you lift up your face to Him without stain; yes, you shall be steadfast and secure; you shall not fear.

For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

16 F or you shall forget your misery; you shall remember it as waters that pass away.

because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

17 A nd life shall be clearer than the noonday and rise above it; though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.

and thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

18 A nd you shall be secure and feel confident because there is hope; yes, you shall search about you, and you shall take your rest in safety.

And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

19 Y ou shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; yes, many shall sue for your favor.

Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

20 B ut the eyes of the wicked shall look in vain, and they shall not escape; and their hope shall be to give up the ghost.

But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.