| NET Bible | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Then Zophar the Naamathite spoke up and said: | 1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, |
| 2"Should not this abundance of words be answered, or should this talkative man be vindicated? | 2"Shall a multitude of words go unanswered, And a talkative man be acquitted? |
| 3Will your idle talk reduce people to silence, and will no one rebuke you when you mock? | 3"Shall your boasts silence men? And shall you scoff and none rebuke? |
| 4For you have said, 'My teaching is flawless, and I am pure in your sight.' | 4"For you have said, 'My teaching is pure, And I am innocent in your eyes.' |
| 5But if only God would speak, if only he would open his lips against you, | 5"But would that God might speak, And open His lips against you, |
| 6and reveal to you the secrets of wisdom--for true wisdom has two sides--so that you would know that God has forgiven some of your sins. | 6And show you the secrets of wisdom! For sound wisdom has two sides. Know then that God forgets a part of your iniquity. |
| 7"Can you discover the essence of God? Can you find out the perfection of the Almighty? | 7"Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty? |
| 8It is higher than the heavens--what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol--what can you know? | 8"They are high as the heavens, what can you do? Deeper than Sheol, what can you know? |
| 9Its measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. | 9"Its measure is longer than the earth And broader than the sea. |
| 10If he comes by and confines you and convenes a court, then who can prevent him? | 10"If He passes by or shuts up, Or calls an assembly, who can restrain Him? |
| 11For he knows deceitful men; when he sees evil, will he not consider it? | 11"For He knows false men, And He sees iniquity without investigating. |
| 12But an empty man will become wise, when a wild donkey's colt is born a human being. | 12"An idiot will become intelligent When the foal of a wild donkey is born a man. |
| 13"As for you, if you prove faithful, and if you stretch out your hands toward him, | 13"If you would direct your heart right And spread out your hand to Him, |
| 14if iniquity is in your hand--put it far away, and do not let evil reside in your tents. | 14If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, And do not let wickedness dwell in your tents; |
| 15For then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be securely established and will not fear. | 15"Then, indeed, you could lift up your face without moral defect, And you would be steadfast and not fear. |
| 16For you will forget your trouble; you will remember it like water that has flowed away. | 16"For you would forget your trouble, As waters that have passed by, you would remember it. |
| 17And life will be brighter than the noonday; though there be darkness, it will be like the morning. | 17"Your life would be brighter than noonday; Darkness would be like the morning. |
| 18And you will be secure, because there is hope; you will be protected and will take your rest in safety. | 18"Then you would trust, because there is hope; And you would look around and rest securely. |
| 19You will lie down with no one to make you afraid, and many will seek your favor. | 19"You would lie down and none would disturb you, And many would entreat your favor. |
| 20But the eyes of the wicked fail, and escape eludes them; their one hope is to breathe their last." | 20"But the eyes of the wicked will fail, And there will be no escape for them; And their hope is to breathe their last." |
| NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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