Zophar Rebukes Job

1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, and said:

2“Shall a multitude of words not be answered?

And should a man of lips be justified?

3Shall your idle boasts cause men to be silent?

And will you mock, and no one is ashamed?

4For you have said, ‘My doctrine is pure,

and I am clean in Your eyes.’

5But who will give God to speak,

and open His lips against you,

6and declare to you the secrets of wisdom—

for there are two sides to wisdom.

And know that God forgets

some of your iniquity.

7Can you find out the searching of God?

Or can you find out unto the limit of Shaddai?†

8The heights of the heavens—what can you do?

They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

9Longer than the earth is its measure,

and wider than the sea.

10If He passes by and imprisons and assembles,

then who can turn Him back?

11For He knows the men of vanity,

and He sees iniquity—will He not then discern it?

12But a man who is hollow will become wise

when the colt of a wild donkey is born as a man!†

13If you would prepare your heart,

and stretch out your hands to Him,

14if iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,

and do not let injustice dwell in your tents.

15Surely then you could lift up your face without blemish,

and you could be established and not fear.

16For you would forget your toil,

and remember it as waters pass by.

17And more than noon life will arise;

darkness will become like the morning.

18And you will be secure, because there is hope,

and you will search and lie down in safety.

19Then You will lie down, and there will be no one making you tremble,

and many will seek favor from your face.

20But the eyes of the wicked will fail,

and escape will perish from them,

and their hope be a puff of the soul.”