1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

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

3 Should your lies make men hold their peace? and when you mock, shall no man make you ashamed?

4 For you have said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in your 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, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.

7 Can you by searching find out God? can you find out the Almighty to perfection?

8 It is as high as heaven; what can you do? deeper than hell; what can you know?

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

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

11 For he knows vain men: he sees wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

12 For vain men would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass' colt.

13 If you prepare your heart, and stretch out your hands toward him;

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

15 For then shall you lift up your face without spot; yes, you shall be steadfast, and shall not fear:

16 Because you shall forget your misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

17 And your age shall be clearer than the noonday: you shall shine forth, you shall be as the morning.

18 And you shall be secure, because there is hope; yes, you shall dig about you, and you shall take your rest in safety.

19 Also you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; yes, many shall make suit to you.

20 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 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2 Should not the multitude of words be answered?

And should a man full of talk be justified?

3 Should thy boastings make men hold their peace?

And when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

4 For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure,

And I am clean in thine eyes.

5 But oh that God would speak,

And open his lips against thee,

6 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 Canst thou by searching find out God?

Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

8 It is high as heaven; what canst thou do?

Deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?

9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth,

And broader than the sea.

10 If he pass through, and shut up,

And all unto judgment, then who can hinder him?

11 For he knoweth false men:

He seeth iniquity also, even though he consider it not.

12 But vain man is void of understanding,

Yea, man is born as a wild ass’s colt.

13 If thou set thy heart aright,

And stretch out thy hands toward him;

14 If iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away,

And let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents.

15 Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot;

Yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

16 For thou shalt forget thy misery;

Thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away,

17 And thy life shall be clearer than the noonday;

Though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.

18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope;

Yea, thou shalt search about thee, and shalt take thy rest in safety.

19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid;

Yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

20 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.