1 T hen answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

And 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 of much talk be justified?

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

Should thy fictions make men hold their peace? and shouldest thou mock, and no one make ashamed?

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

For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in 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 shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, how that they are the double of what is realised; and know that +God passeth by 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 find out the Almighty to perfection?

8 I t is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

the heights of heaven; what wilt thou do? deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?

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

The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

10 I f he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

If he pass by, and shut up, and call to judgment, who can hinder him?

11 F or he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

For he knoweth vain men, and seeth wickedness when doth not consider it;

12 F or vain men would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.

Yet a senseless man will make bold, though man be born the foal of a wild ass.

13 I f thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

If thou prepare thy heart and stretch out thy hands toward him,

14 I f iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

If thou put far away the iniquity which is in thy hand, and let not wrong dwell in thy tents;

15 F or then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shalt be stedfast and shalt not fear:

16 B ecause thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

For thou shalt forget misery; as waters that are passed away shalt thou remember it;

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

And life shall arise brighter than noonday; though thou be enshrouded in darkness, thou shalt be as the morning,

18 A nd thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

And thou shalt have confidence, because there shall be hope; and having searched about, thou shalt take rest in safety.

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

Yea, thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; and many shall seek thy favour.

20 B ut the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.

But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and refuge shall vanish from them, and their hope the breathing out of life.