^{1 Ref} Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

^{2 Ref} Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be justified?

^{3 Ref} Should thy boastings make men hold their peace? And when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

^{4 Ref} For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in thine eyes.

^{5 Ref} But oh that God would speak, And open his lips against thee,

^{6 Ref} And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

^{7 Ref} Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

^{8 Ref} It is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?

^{9 Ref} The measure thereof is longer than the earth, And broader than the sea.

^{10 Ref} If he pass through, and shut up, And all unto judgment, then who can hinder him?

^{11 Ref} For he knoweth false men: He seeth iniquity also, even though he consider it not.

^{12 Ref} But vain man is void of understanding, Yea, man is born `as' a wild ass's colt.

^{13 Ref} If thou set thy heart aright, And stretch out thy hands toward him;

^{14 Ref} If iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away, And let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents.

^{15 Ref} Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; Yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

^{16 Ref} For thou shalt forget thy misery; Thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away,

^{17 Ref} And `thy' life shall be clearer than the noonday; Though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.

^{18 Ref} And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; Yea, thou shalt search `about thee', and shalt take thy rest in safety.

^{19 Ref} Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; Yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

^{20 Ref} But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, And they shall have no way to flee; And their hope shall be the giving up of the ghost.

^{1 Ref} Then Zophar the Naamathite made answer and said,

^{2 Ref} Are all these words to go unanswered? and is a man seen to be right because he is full of talk?

^{3 Ref} Are your words of pride to make men keep quiet? and are you to make sport, with no one to put you to shame?

^{4 Ref} You may say, My way is clean, and I am free from sin in your eyes.

^{5 Ref} But if only God would take up the word, opening his lips in argument with you;

^{6 Ref} And would make clear to you the secrets of wisdom, and the wonders of his purpose!

^{7 Ref} Are you able to take God's measure, to make discovery of the limits of the Ruler of all?

^{8 Ref} They are higher than heaven; what is there for you to do? deeper than the underworld, and outside your knowledge;

^{9 Ref} Longer in measure than the earth, and wider than the sea.

^{10 Ref} If he goes on his way, shutting a man up and putting him to death, who may make him go back from his purpose?

^{11 Ref} For in his eyes men are as nothing; he sees evil and takes note of it.

^{12 Ref} And so a hollow-minded man will get wisdom, when a young ass of the field gets teaching.

^{13 Ref} But if you put your heart right, stretching out your hands to him;

^{14 Ref} If you put far away the evil of your hands, and let no wrongdoing have a place in your tent;

^{15 Ref} Then truly your face will be lifted up, with no mark of sin, and you will be fixed in your place without fear:

^{16 Ref} For your sorrow will go from your memory, like waters flowing away:

^{17 Ref} And your life will be brighter than day; though it is dark, it will become like the morning.

^{18 Ref} And you will be safe because there is hope; after looking round, you will take your rest in quiet;

^{19 Ref} Sleeping with no fear of danger; and men will be desiring to have grace in your eyes;

^{20 Ref} But the eyes of the evil-doers will be wasting away; their way of flight is gone, and their only hope is the taking of their last breath.