| 1 | Then Zophar the Naamathite replied, |
| 2 | Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk [and making such great professions] be pronounced free from guilt
or
blame? |
| 3 | Should your boastings
and
babble make men keep silent? And when you mock
and
scoff, shall no man make you ashamed? |
| 4 | For you have said, My doctrine [that God afflicts the righteous knowingly] is pure, and I am clean in [God’s] eyes. |
| 5 | But oh, that God would speak, and open His lips against you, |
| 6 | And that He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For He is manifold in understanding! Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your guilt
and
iniquity [deserve]. |
| 7 | Can you find out the deep things of God, or can you by searching find out the limits of the Almighty [explore His depths, ascend to His heights, extend to His breadths, and comprehend His infinite perfection]? |
| 8 | His wisdom is as high as the heights of heaven! What can you do? It is deeper than Sheol (the place of the dead)! What can you know? |
| 9 | Longer in measure [and scope] is it than the earth, and broader than the sea. |
| 10 | If [God] sweeps in and arrests and calls into judgment, who can hinder Him? [If He is against a man, who shall call Him to account for it?] |
| 11 | For He recognizes
and
knows hollow, wicked,
and
useless men (men of falsehood); when He sees iniquity, will He not consider it? |
| 12 | But a stupid man will get wisdom [only] when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man [as when he thinks himself free because he is lifted up in pride]. |
| 13 | If you set your heart aright and stretch out your hands to [God], |
| 14 | If you put sin out of your hand
and
far away from you and let not evil dwell in your tents; |
| 15 | Then can you lift up your face to Him without stain [of sin, and unashamed]; yes, you shall be steadfast
and
secure; you shall not fear. |
| 16 | For you shall forget your misery; you shall remember it as waters that pass away. |
| 17 | And [your] life shall be clearer than the noonday
and
rise above it; though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning. |
| 18 | And you shall be secure
and
feel confident because there is hope; yes, you shall search about you, and you shall take your rest in safety. |
| 19 | You shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; yes, many shall sue for your favor. |
| 20 | But the eyes of the wicked shall look [for relief] in vain, and they shall not escape [the justice of God]; and their hope shall be to give up the ghost. |
Cross references:
-
Job 11:4 : Job 10:7.
|