1 T hen Zophar the Naamathite answered,

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

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

“Should many words go without an answer? Should a man full of talk be said to be without blame?

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

Should your words of pride make men quiet? Should you make fun of truth and no one speak sharp words to you?

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

For you say, ‘What I believe is pure. I am without fault in Your eyes.’

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

If only God would speak, and open His lips against you.

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.

He would show you the secrets of wisdom because there are two sides. Then you would know that God is punishing you less than you should get.

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

“Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out how far the All-powerful can go?

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

They are higher than the heavens. What can you do? They are deeper than the place of the dead. What can you know?

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

They are longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

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

If He passes by, puts a man in prison, or calls him to trial, who can stop Him?

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

For He knows men who are no good. When He sees wrong-doing, will He not look into it?

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

A fool cannot become wise anymore than a wild donkey can give birth to a man.

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

“If you set your heart right, and put out your hands to Him,

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

and if you put away the sin that is in your hand, do not let wrong-doing be in your tents.

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

Then you will be able to lift up your face without sin. You would be strong and not afraid.

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

For you would forget your trouble, remembering it as waters that have passed by.

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

Your life would be brighter than noon. Darkness would be like the morning.

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

Then you would trust, because there is hope. You would look around and rest and be safe.

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

You would lie down and no one would make you afraid. Many would ask for your favor.

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 sinful will waste away. There will be no way for them to get away. And their hope is to breathe their last.”