Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

“Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?

Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke?

For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.’

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

But if only God would speak and open His lips against you,

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.

and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.

Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?

It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

If He comes along to imprison you, or convenes a court, who can stop Him?

For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?

For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.

But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man!

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

As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him,

If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

if you put away the iniquity in your hand, and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents,

For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

then indeed you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and unafraid.

Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

For you will forget your misery, recalling it only as waters gone by.

And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.

And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety.

Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor.

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.

But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”