| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: | 1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: |
| 2“Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be vindicated? | 2"Are all these words to go unanswered? Is this talker to be vindicated? |
| 3Should your empty talk make men hold their peace? And when you mock, should no one rebuke you? | 3Will your idle talk reduce others to silence? Will no one rebuke you when you mock? |
| 4For you have said, ‘My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in your eyes.’ | 4You say to God, 'My beliefs are flawless and I am pure in your sight.' |
| 5But oh, that God would speak, And open His lips against you, | 5Oh, how I wish that God would speak, that he would open his lips against you |
| 6That He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For they would double your prudence. Know therefore that God exacts from you Less than your iniquity deserves. | 6and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin. |
| 7“Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty? | 7"Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? |
| 8They are higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? | 8They are higher than the heavens above--what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below--what can you know? |
| 9Their measure is longer than the earth And broader than the sea. | 9Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. |
| 10“If He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment, Then who can hinder Him? | 10"If he comes along and confines you in prison and convenes a court, who can oppose him? |
| 11For He knows deceitful men; He sees wickedness also. Will He not then consider it? | 11Surely he recognizes deceivers; and when he sees evil, does he not take note? |
| 12For an empty-headed man will be wise, When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man. | 12But the witless can no more become wise than a wild donkey's colt can be born human. |
| 13“If you would prepare your heart, And stretch out your hands toward Him; | 13"Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him, |
| 14If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away, And would not let wickedness dwell in your tents; | 14if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, |
| 15Then surely you could lift up your face without spot; Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear; | 15then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear. |
| 16Because you would forget your misery, And remember it as waters that have passed away, | 16You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. |
| 17And your life would be brighter than noonday. Though you were dark, you would be like the morning. | 17Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning. |
| 18And you would be secure, because there is hope; Yes, you would dig around you, and take your rest in safety. | 18You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. |
| 19You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid; Yes, many would court your favor. | 19You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor. |
| 20But the eyes of the wicked will fail, And they shall not escape, And their hope— loss of life!” | 20But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; their hope will become a dying gasp." |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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