² “Shouldn’t a multitude of words be answered,
    or a person who talks too much^[a] be vindicated?
³ Will your irrational babble silence people,
    and when you mock them,
        will you escape without being shamed?^[b]
4 You’ve said, ‘My teaching is flawless;
    I’m clean^[c] in God’s^[d] sight.’

⁵ “But what if God were to speak?
    What if he were^[e] to talk^[f] with you,
⁶ and disclose his wise secrets?
After all, there’s so much more^[g] to understanding.
    So be aware that God will exact from you
        less than your sin deserves.”