1 ¶ 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?

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

4 F or 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

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

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

9 T he measure of it is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.

10 I f he cuts off, or shuts up, or gathers together, then who can hinder him?

11 F or he knows the vain men; and he sees the iniquity; will he not then understand it?

12 T he vain man shall make himself understood, though man is born like a wild ass’s colt.

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

14 i f 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 t hen shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; thou shalt be strongly established and shalt not fear;

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

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

18 A nd thou shalt trust because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig and sleep in safety;

19 t hou 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 consume themselves, and they shall have no refuge, and their hope shall be agony of the soul.