1 T hen Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,

Then Zophar the Naamathite replied,

2 “ Shouldn’t the multitude of words be answered? Should a man full of talk be justified?

Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be pronounced free from guilt or blame?

3 S hould your boastings make men hold their peace? When you mock, shall no man make you ashamed?

Should your boastings and babble make men keep silent? And when you mock and scoff, shall no man make you ashamed?

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

For you have said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in 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 you,

6 t hat he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For true wisdom has two sides. Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.

And that He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For He is manifold in understanding! Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your guilt and iniquity.

7 “ Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

Can you find out the deep things of God, or can you by searching find out the limits of the Almighty ?

8 T hey are high as heaven. What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol. What can you know?

His wisdom is as high as the heights of heaven! What can you do? It is deeper than Sheol (the place of the dead)! What can you know?

9 I ts measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

Longer in measure is it than the earth, and broader than the sea.

10 I f he passes by, or confines, or convenes a court, then who can oppose him?

If sweeps in and arrests and calls into judgment, who can hinder Him?

11 F or he knows false men. He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn’t consider it.

For He recognizes and knows hollow, wicked, and useless men (men of falsehood); when He sees iniquity, will He not consider it?

12 A n empty-headed man becomes wise when a man is born as a wild donkey’s colt.

But a stupid man will get wisdom when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.

13 “ If you set your heart aright, stretch out your hands toward him.

If you set your heart aright and stretch out your hands to,

14 I f iniquity is in your hand, put it far away. Don’t let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.

If you put sin out of your hand and far away from you and let not evil dwell in your tents;

15 S urely then you shall lift up your face without spot; Yes, you shall be steadfast, and shall not fear:

Then can you lift up your face to Him without stain; yes, you shall be steadfast and secure; you shall not fear.

16 f or you shall forget your misery. You shall remember it like waters that have passed away.

For you shall forget your misery; you shall remember it as waters that pass away.

17 L ife shall be clearer than the noonday. Though there is darkness, it shall be as the morning.

And life shall be clearer than the noonday and rise above it; though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.

18 Y ou shall be secure, because there is hope. Yes, you shall search, and shall take your rest in safety.

And you shall be secure and feel confident because there is hope; yes, you shall search about you, and you shall take your rest in safety.

19 A lso you shall lie down, and no one shall make you afraid. Yes, many shall court your favor.

You shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; yes, many shall sue for your favor.

20 B ut the eyes of the wicked shall fail. They shall have no way to flee. Their hope shall be the giving up of the spirit.”

But the eyes of the wicked shall look in vain, and they shall not escape; and their hope shall be to give up the ghost.