1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: (Job 2:11)2“Should a multitude of words go unanswered, and a man full of talk be judged right? (Pr 10:19; Ec 5:3)3Should your babble silence men, and when you mock, shall no one shame you?4For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in God’s[1] eyes.’ (De 32:2; Job 10:7; Pr 4:2; Isa 29:24)5But oh, that God would speak and open his lips to you,6and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding.[2] Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves. (Ezr 9:13; Job 5:12)7“Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? (Job 5:9; Ps 145:3; Ec 3:11; Ec 8:17; Ro 11:33)8It is higher than heaven[3]—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? (Job 22:12; Ps 139:8)9Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.10If he passes through and imprisons and summons the court, who can turn him back? (Job 9:11; Job 9:12; Job 12:14; Job 23:13)11For he knows worthless men; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it? (Ps 26:4)12But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man! (Job 39:5; Ps 73:22; Ec 3:18)13“If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him. (1Sa 7:3; Ps 44:20; Ps 78:8; Ps 88:9; Ps 143:6)14If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents.15Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear. (Ge 4:5; Job 22:26; Job 31:7; Ps 119:6; 2Pe 3:14; 1Jo 3:21)16You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away. (Isa 65:16)17And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning. (Ps 37:6; Isa 58:8; Isa 58:10)18And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security. (Le 26:5; Ps 4:8; Pr 3:24; Isa 17:2; Zep 3:13)19You will lie down, and none will make you afraid; many will court your favor. (Job 11:18; Ps 45:12)20But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last.” (Job 17:5; Job 31:16; Jer 15:9)
1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:2‘Are all these words to go unanswered? Is this talker to be vindicated?3Will your idle talk reduce others to silence? Will no-one rebuke you when you mock?4You say to God, “My beliefs are flawless and I am pure in your sight.”5Oh, how I wish that God would speak, that he would open his lips against you6and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.7‘Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?8They are higher than the heavens above – what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below – what can you know?9Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.10‘If he comes along and confines you in prison and convenes a court, who can oppose him?11Surely he recognises deceivers; and when he sees evil, does he not take note?12But the witless can no more become wise than a wild donkey’s colt can be born human.[1]13‘Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him,14if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,15then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear.16You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by.17Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning.18You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.19You will lie down, with no-one to make you afraid, and many will court your favour.20But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; their hope will become a dying gasp.’
1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied,2‘Don’t all your words require an answer? I’m sure that what you are saying can’t be right.3Your useless talk won’t keep us quiet. Someone has to correct you when you make fun of truth.4You say to God, “My beliefs are perfect. I’m pure in your sight.”5I wish God would speak. I wish he’d answer you.6I wish he’d show you the secrets of wisdom. After all, true wisdom has two sides. Here’s what I want you to know. God has forgotten some of your sins.7‘Do you know how deep the mysteries of God are? Can you discover the limits of the Mighty One’s knowledge?8They are higher than the heavens above. What can you do? They are deeper than the deepest parts of the earth below. What can you know?9They are longer than the earth. They are wider than the ocean.10‘Suppose God comes along and puts you in prison. Suppose he takes you to court. Then who can oppose him?11He certainly knows when people tell lies. When he sees evil, he pays careful attention to it.12A wild donkey’s colt can’t be born a human being. And it’s just as impossible that a person without sense can become wise.13‘So commit yourself to God completely. Reach out your hands to him for help.14Get rid of all the sin you have. Don’t let anything that is evil stay in your tent.15Then, free of those things, you can face others. You can stand firm without being afraid.16You can be sure you will forget your troubles. They will be like water that has flowed on by.17Life will be brighter than the sun at noon. And darkness will become like morning.18You will be secure, because there is hope. You will look around you and find a safe place to rest.19You will lie down, and no one will make you afraid. Many people will want you to help them.20But sinful people won’t find what they are looking for. They won’t be able to escape. All they can hope for is to die.’