1 T hen answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

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

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

3 S hould thy boastings make men hold their peace? And when thou mockest, shall no man make thee 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 thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in thine 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 thee,

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

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.

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

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

8 I t is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than Sheol; what canst thou 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 T he measure thereof is longer than the earth, And broader than the sea.

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

10 I f he pass through, and shut up, And all unto judgment, then 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 knoweth false men: He seeth iniquity also, even though he consider it not.

For He knows men who are no good. When He sees wrong-doing, will He not look into it?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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