1 T hen Zophar the Naamathite replied,

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

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 many words go without an answer? Should a man full of talk be said to be without blame?

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

Should your words of pride make men quiet? Should you make fun of truth and no one speak sharp words to you?

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

For you say, ‘What I believe is pure. I am without fault in Your eyes.’

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

If only God would speak, and open His lips against you.

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.

He would show you the secrets of wisdom because there are two sides. Then you would know that God is punishing you less than you should get.

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

“Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out how far the All-powerful can go?

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?

They are higher than the heavens. What can you do? They are deeper than the place of the dead. What can you know?

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

They are longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

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

If He passes by, puts a man in prison, or calls him to trial, who can stop 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 knows men who are no good. When He sees wrong-doing, will He not look into it?

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

A fool cannot become wise anymore than a wild donkey can give birth to a man.

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

“If you set your heart right, and put out your hands to Him,

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

and if you put away the sin that is in your hand, do not let wrong-doing be in your tents.

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

Then you will be able to lift up your face without sin. You would be strong and not afraid.

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

For you would forget your trouble, remembering it as waters that have passed by.

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

Your life would be brighter than noon. Darkness would be like 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.

Then you would trust, because there is hope. You would look around and rest and be safe.

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

You would lie down and no one would make you afraid. Many would ask for your favor.

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 sinful will waste away. There will be no way for them to get away. And their hope is to breathe their last.”