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 lies 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 hast said, 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 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 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 as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; 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 cut off, and shut up, or gather together, 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 vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

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

12 F or vain men would be wise, though man be born like 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 prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

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

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

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

and 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.

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 dig about thee, and thou 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 not escape, and their hope shall be as 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.