1 T hen Zophar the Naamathite answered,

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

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

Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be justified?

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

Should thy boastings make men hold their peace? And when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

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

For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in thine eyes.

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

But oh that God would speak, And open his lips against thee,

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

And 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.

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

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

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

It is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?

9 “ Its measure is longer than the earth And broader than the sea.

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

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

If he pass through, and shut up, And all unto judgment, then who can hinder him?

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

For he knoweth false men: He seeth iniquity also, even though he consider it not.

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

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

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

If thou set thy heart aright, And stretch out thy hands toward him;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And thy life shall be clearer than the noonday; Though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.

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

And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; Yea, thou shalt search about thee, and shalt take thy rest in safety.

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

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

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

But 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.