1 T hen answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

¶ Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered and said,

2 S hould not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be justified?

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

3 S hould thy boastings make men hold their peace? And when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

Should thy lies make men be silent? Shalt thou mock, and shall no man make thee ashamed?

4 F or thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in thine eyes.

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

5 B ut oh that God would speak, And open his lips against thee,

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

6 A nd that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

and that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For thou dost deserve double according to sound wisdom; and thou dost know that God has forgotten thee because of thine iniquity.

7 C anst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

¶ Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou come unto the perfection of the Almighty?

8 I t is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?

It is higher than the heavens; what canst thou do? It is deeper than Sheol; how canst thou know it?

9 T he measure thereof is longer than the earth, And broader than the sea.

The measure of it is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.

10 I f he pass through, and shut up, And all unto judgment, then who can hinder him?

If he cuts off, or shuts up, or gathers together, then who can hinder him?

11 F or he knoweth false men: He seeth iniquity also, even though he consider it not.

For he knows the vain men; and he sees the iniquity; will he not then understand it?

12 B ut vain man is void of understanding, Yea, man is born as a wild ass's colt.

The vain man shall make himself understood, though man is born like a wild ass’s colt.

13 I f thou set thy heart aright, And stretch out thy hands toward him;

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

14 I f iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away, And let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents.

if there is any iniquity in thy hand and thou dost put it far away and dost not consent that wickedness dwell in thy habitations,

15 S urely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; Yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; thou shalt be strongly established and shalt not fear;

16 F or thou shalt forget thy misery; Thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away,

and thou shalt forget thy misery and remember it as waters that passed away;

17 A nd thy life shall be clearer than the noonday; 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 thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; Yea, thou shalt search about thee, and shalt take thy rest in safety.

And thou shalt trust because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig and sleep in safety;

19 A lso thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; Yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

thou shalt lie down, and no one shall make thee afraid; and many shall make requests unto thee.

20 B ut the eyes of the wicked shall fail, And they shall have no way to flee; And their hope shall be the giving up of the ghost.

But the eyes of the wicked shall consume themselves, and they shall have no refuge, and their hope shall be agony of the soul.