1  Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said

1  But Zophar the Naamathite, responding, said

2  Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be accounted right?

2  He that speaks much, should also hear on the other side: or does the fluent speaker think himself to be righteous? blessed is the short lived offspring of woman.

2  Will he who speaks much, not also listen? Or will a talkative man be justified?

3  Thy boastings have made men hold their peace, and thou hast mocked, with none to make thee ashamed;

3  Be not a speaker of many words; for is there none to answer thee?

4  And thou hast said: 'My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in Thine eyes.'

4  For say not, I am pure in my works, and blameless before him.

4  For you said: “My word is pure, and I am clean in your sight.”

5  But oh that God would speak, and open His lips against thee;

5  But oh that the Lord would speak to thee, and open his lips to thee!

5  Yet I wish that God would speak with you, and would open his lips to you,

6  And that He would tell thee the secrets of wisdom, that sound wisdom is manifold! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

6  Then shall he declare to thee the power of wisdom; for it shall be double of that which is with thee: and then shalt thou know, that a just recompence of thy sins has come to thee from the Lord.

7  Canst thou find out the deep things of God? Canst thou attain unto the purpose of the Almighty?

7  Wilt thou find out the traces of the Lord? or hast thou come to the end of that which the Almighty has made?

7  By chance, will you comprehend the footsteps of God and reach all the way to the perfection of the Almighty?

8  It is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than the nether-world; what canst thou know?

8  He is higher than heaven, and what will you do? He is deeper than hell, but how will you know?

8  Do you know the height of the heaven? Or the depth of Sheol? How can you know?

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

9  Or longer than the measure of the earth, or the breadth of the sea.

9  His measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

10  If He pass by, and shut up, or gather in, then who can hinder Him?

10  And if he should overthrow all things, who will say to him, What hast thou done?

10  If he overturns all things, or packs them together, who will contradict him?

11  For He knoweth base men; and when He seeth iniquity, will He not then consider it?

11  For he knows the works of transgressors; and when he sees wickedness, he will not overlook it.

11  For it is he who knows the beginning of time; and sees wickedness, and considers it.

12  But an empty man will get understanding, when a wild ass's colt is born a man.

12  But man vainly buoys himself up with words; and a mortal born of woman is like an ass in the desert.

12  For a pure man inspires courage, and a mighty man helps others.

13  If thou set thy heart aright, and stretch out thy hands toward Him--

13  For if thou hast made thine heart pure, and liftest up thine hands towards him;

13  But you have fortified your heart and extended your hands to him.

14  If iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away, and let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents--

14  If you would send away from you the iniquity that is in your hand, and not let injustice remain in your tabernacle,

15  Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear;

15  then you would be able to lift up your face without blemish, and you would be steadfast and unafraid.

15  For then you will be courageous; yea, you will not be afraid of distress.

16  For thou shalt forget thy misery; thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away;

16  Misery, likewise, you would forget, or would remember only like waters that have passed by.

17  And thy life shall be clearer than the noonday; though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.

17  And brightness, like that of midday, will rise upon you until evening, and when you would think yourself consumed, you will rise up like the morning star.

17  And the pit will be clearer than the noonday, and the thick darkness will be like the morning.

18  And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt look about thee, and shalt take thy rest in safety.

18  And, when hope has been set before you, you will have faith, and, when buried, you will sleep secure.

18  Then you will have confidence because there is hope; yea, you lie down and take your rest in safety

19  Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

19  For thou shalt be at ease, and there shall be no one to fight against thee; and many shall charge, and make supplication to thee.

19  You will rest, and there will be nothing to make you afraid, and many will make requests before your face.

20  But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall have no way to flee, and their hope shall be the drooping of the soul.

20  But safety shall fail them; for their hope is destruction, and the eyes of the ungodly shall waste away.