1 T hen Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,

And Zophar the Naamathite answereth and saith: --

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

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

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

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

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

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

5 B ut oh that God would speak, and open his lips against you,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.”

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