1 Toe het Sofar, die Naämatiet, geantwoord en gesê:

2 Moet die menigte van woorde onbeantwoord bly? Of moet 'n loslippige man reg hê?

3 Sou jou gepraat manne laat swyg, sodat jy spot -- sonder dat iemand jou beskaamd maak --

4 en sê: Suiwer is my leer, en rein is ek in u oë?

5 Maar, ag, as God maar wou spreek en sy lippe open teen jou!

6 En jou bekend wou maak dat die verborgenhede van die wysheid die insig verdubbel! Sodat jy kan weet dat God vir jou 'n deel van jou skuld deur die vingers sien.

7 Kan jy die dieptes van God peil? Of sal jy kan deurdring tot by die volmaaktheid van die Almagtige?

8 Hoogtes van die hemel is dit -- wat kan jy doen? Dieper as die doderyk -- wat kan jy weet?

9 Langer as die aarde is die maat daarvan en breër as die see.

10 As Hy verbyskuiwe en gevange neem en 'n regsvergadering oproep -- wie sal Hom dan teëhou?

11 Want Hy ken die valse mense, en Hy sien die ongeregtigheid sonder dat Hy juis daarop ag gee.

12 So kan dan 'n domme verstand verkry en 'n jong wilde-esel as mens gebore word.

13 As jy jou hart berei en jou hande uitbrei na Hom

14 -- as daar ongeregtigheid in jou hand is, verwyder dit, en laat geen onreg in jou tente woon nie --

15 ja, dan sal jy jou aangesig kan ophef, vry van smet; en jy sal vasstaan sonder om te vrees.

16 Ja, jy sal die moeite vergeet; soos aan water wat verbygeloop het, sal jy daaraan dink.

17 En helderder as die middag sal die lewe oprys; is dit donker -- dit sal wees soos die môre !

18 En jy sal vertrou, want daar is verwagting; en kyk jy rond -- jy sal in veiligheid gaan slaap.

19 Ook sal jy lê sonder dat iemand jou skrikmaak; en baie sal jou guns soek.

20 Maar die oë van die goddelose sal versmag, en die toevlug is vir hulle verlore; en hulle verwagting is -- uitblasing van die laaste asem.

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, 2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? 3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? 4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. 5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee; 6 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 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? 8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? 9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. 10 If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him? 11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it? 12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.

13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him; 14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. 15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear: 16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away: 17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. 18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety. 19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee. 20 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.