1 And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man of much talk be justified?3 Should thy fictions make men hold their peace? and shouldest thou mock, and no one make {thee} ashamed?4 For thou sayest, 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, how that they are the double of what is realised; and know that +God passeth by {much} of thine iniquity!7 Canst thou by searching find out +God? canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection?8 {It is as} the heights of heaven; what wilt thou do? deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.10 If he pass by, and shut up, and call to judgment, who can hinder him?11 For he knoweth vain men, and seeth wickedness when {man} doth not consider it;12 Yet a senseless man will make bold, though man be born {like} the foal of a wild ass.13 If thou prepare thy heart and stretch out thy hands toward him,14 If thou put far away the iniquity which is in thy hand, and let not wrong dwell in thy tents;15 Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shalt be stedfast and shalt not fear:16 For thou shalt forget misery; as waters that are passed away shalt thou remember it;17 And life shall arise brighter than noonday; though thou be enshrouded in darkness, thou shalt be as the morning,18 And thou shalt have confidence, because there shall be hope; and having searched about {thee}, thou shalt take rest in safety.19 Yea, thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; and many shall seek thy favour.20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and {all} refuge shall vanish from them, and their hope {shall be} the breathing out of life.

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 Hom14 -- 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.