1 Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,

2 "Shouldn’t the multitude of words be answered?

Should a man full of talk be justified?

3 Should your boastings make men hold their peace?

When you mock, will no man make you ashamed?

4 For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure.

I am clean in your eyes.’

5 But oh that God would speak,

and open his lips against you,

6 that 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.

7 "Can you fathom the mystery of God?

Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

8 They are high as heaven. What can you do?

They are deeper than Sheol. What can you know?

9 Its measure is longer than the earth,

and broader than the sea.

10 If he passes by, or confines,

or convenes a court, then who can oppose him?

11 For he knows false men.

He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn’t consider it.

12 An empty-headed man becomes wise

when a man is born as a wild donkey’s colt.

13 "If you set your heart aright,

stretch out your hands toward him.

14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away.

Don’t let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.

15 Surely then you will lift up your face without spot.

Yes, you will be steadfast, and will not fear,

16 for you will forget your misery.

You will remember it like waters that have passed away.

17 Life will be clearer than the noonday.

Though there is darkness, it will be as the morning.

18 You will be secure, because there is hope.

Yes, you will search, and will take your rest in safety.

19 Also you will lie down, and no one will make you afraid.

Yes, many will court your favor.

20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail.

They will have no way to flee.

Their hope will be the giving up of the spirit."

1 Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered 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 be silent? Shalt thou mock, and shall no man make thee ashamed?

4 For thou hast said, My doctrine [is] pure, and I am clean before thine eyes.

5 But oh, that God would speak and open his lips against thee

6 and that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For thou dost deserve double according to sound wisdom; and thou dost know that God has forgotten thee because of thine iniquity.

7 Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou come unto the perfection of the Almighty?

8 It is higher than the heavens; what canst thou do? It is deeper than Sheol; how canst thou know it?

9 The measure of it [is] longer than the earth and broader than the sea.

10 If he cuts off, or shuts up, or gathers together, then who can hinder him?

11 For he knows the vain men; and he sees the iniquity; will he not then understand [it]?

12 The vain man shall make himself understood, though man is born [like] a wild ass's colt.

13 If thou would prepare thine heart and stretch out thine hands toward him;

14 if there is any iniquity in thy hand and thou dost put it far away and dost not consent that wickedness dwell in thy habitations,

15 then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; thou shalt be strongly established and shalt not fear;

16 and thou shalt forget [thy] misery [and] remember [it] as waters that passed 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 trust because there is hope; [yea], thou shalt dig and sleep in safety;

19 thou shalt lie down, and no one shall make [thee] afraid; and many shall make requests unto thee.

20 But the eyes of the wicked shall consume themselves, and they shall have no refuge, and their hope [shall be] agony of the soul.: