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

^{2 Ref} "Shouldn't the multitude of words be answered? Should a man full of talk be justified?

^{3 Ref} Should your boastings make men hold their peace? When you mock, shall no man make you ashamed?

^{4 Ref} For you say, 'My doctrine is pure, I am clean in your eyes.'

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

^{6 Ref} 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 Ref} "Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

^{8 Ref} They are high as heaven. What can you do? Deeper than Sheol: what can you know?

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

^{10 Ref} If he passes by, or confines, Or convenes a court, then who can oppose him?

^{11 Ref} For he knows false men. He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn't consider it.

^{12 Ref} But vain man can become wise If a man can be born as a wild donkey's colt.

^{13 Ref} "If you set your heart aright, Stretch out your hands toward him.

^{14 Ref} If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, Don't let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.

^{15 Ref} Surely then shall you lift up your face without spot; Yes, you shall be steadfast, and shall not fear:

^{16 Ref} For you shall forget your misery; You shall remember it as waters that are passed away,

^{17 Ref} Life shall be clearer than the noonday; Though there is darkness, it shall be as the morning.

^{18 Ref} You shall be secure, because there is hope; Yes, you shall search, and shall take your rest in safety.

^{19 Ref} Also you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; Yes, many shall court your favor.

^{20 Ref} But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, They shall have no way to flee; Their hope shall be the giving up of the spirit."

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

^{4 Ref} For thou hast said, 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 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 Ref} Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

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

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

^{10 Ref} If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

^{11 Ref} For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

^{12 Ref} For vain men would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.

^{13 Ref} If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

^{14 Ref} If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

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

^{16 Ref} Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

^{17 Ref} And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday: thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

^{18 Ref} And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou 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 not escape, and their hope shall be as 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.