1 ¶ Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered 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?

“Shall a multitude of words go unanswered, And a talkative man be acquitted?

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

“Shall your boasts silence men? And shall you scoff and none rebuke?

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

“For you have said, ‘My teaching is pure, And I am innocent in your eyes.’

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

“But would that God might speak, And open His lips against you,

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.

And show you the secrets of wisdom! For sound wisdom has two sides. Know then that God forgets a part of your iniquity.

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

“ Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits 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?

“ They are high as the heavens, what can you do? Deeper than Sheol, what can you know?

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

“Its measure 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?

“If He passes by or shuts up, Or calls an assembly, who can restrain Him?

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

“For He knows false men, And He sees iniquity without investigating.

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

“ An idiot will become intelligent When the foal of a wild donkey is born a man.

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

“ If you would direct your heart right And spread out your hand to 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,

If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, And do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;

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

“Then, indeed, you could lift up your face without moral defect, And you would be steadfast and not fear.

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

“For you would forget your trouble, As waters that have passed by, you would remember it.

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

“Your life would be brighter than noonday; Darkness would be like the morning.

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

“Then you would trust, because there is hope; And you would look around and rest securely.

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

“You would lie down and none would disturb you, And many would entreat your favor.

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.

“But the eyes of the wicked will fail, And there will be no escape for them; And their hope is to breathe their last.”