1 T hen Zophar the Naamathite answered,

And Zophar the Naamathite answereth and saith: --

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

Is a multitude of words not answered? And is a man of lips justified?

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

Thy devices make men keep silent, Thou scornest, and none is causing blushing!

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

And thou sayest, `Pure my discourse, And clean I have been in Thine eyes.'

5 I f only God would speak, and open His lips against you.

And yet, O that God had spoken! And doth open His lips with thee.

6 H e 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.

And declare to thee secrets of wisdom, For counsel hath foldings. And know thou that God forgetteth for thee, of thine iniquity.

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

By searching dost thou find out God? Unto perfection find out the Mighty One?

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

Heights of the heavens! -- what dost thou? Deeper than Sheol! -- what knowest thou?

9 T hey are longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

Longer than earth its measure, And broader than the sea.

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

If He pass on, and shut up, and assemble, Who then dost reverse it?

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

For he hath known men of vanity, And He seeth iniquity, And one doth not consider!

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

And empty man is bold, And the colt of a wild ass man is born.

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

If thou -- thou hast prepared thy heart, And hast spread out unto Him thy hands,

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

If iniquity in thy hand, put it far off, And let not perverseness dwell in thy tents.

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

For then thou liftest up thy face from blemish, And thou hast been firm, and fearest not.

16 F or you would forget your trouble, remembering it as waters that have passed by.

For thou dost forget misery, As waters passed away thou rememberest.

17 Y our life would be brighter than noon. Darkness would be like the morning.

And above the noon doth age rise, Thou fliest -- as the morning thou art.

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

And thou hast trusted because their is hope, And searched -- in confidence thou liest down,

19 Y ou would lie down and no one would make you afraid. Many would ask for your favor.

And thou hast rested, And none is causing trembling, And many have entreated thy face;

20 B ut 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.”

And the eyes of the wicked are consumed, And refuge hath perished from them, And their hope a breathing out of soul!