1 T hen Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2 “ Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be vindicated?

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

3 S hould your empty talk make men hold their peace? And when you mock, should no one rebuke you?

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

4 F or you have said, ‘My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in your eyes.’

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

5 B ut oh, that God would speak, And open His lips against you,

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

6 T hat He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For they would double your prudence. Know therefore that God exacts from you Less than your iniquity deserves.

and 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.

7 “ Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?

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

8 T hey are higher than heaven— what can you do? Deeper than Sheol— what can you know?

It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

9 T heir 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, imprisons, and gathers to judgment, Then who can hinder Him?

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

11 F or He knows deceitful men; He sees wickedness also. Will He not then consider it?

For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

12 F or an empty-headed man will be wise, When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.

For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.

13 “ If you would prepare your heart, And stretch out your hands toward Him;

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

14 I f iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away, And would not let wickedness dwell in your tents;

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

15 T hen surely you could lift up your face without spot; Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear;

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

16 B ecause you would forget your misery, And remember it as waters that have passed away,

because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

17 A nd your life would be brighter than noonday. Though you were dark, you would be like the morning.

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

18 A nd you would be secure, because there is hope; Yes, you would dig around you, and take your rest in safety.

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

19 Y ou would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid; Yes, many would court your favor.

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

20 B ut the eyes of the wicked will fail, And they shall not escape, And their hope—loss of life!”

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