² “Should not the multitude of words be answered?
    And should a man full of talk be justified?
³ Should your empty talk make men hold their peace?
    And when you mock, will no one shame you?
⁴ For you have said, ‘My teaching is pure,
    And I am clean in your eyes.’
⁵ But oh, that God would speak
    and open His lips against you,
⁶ and that He would show you the secrets of wisdom!
    For they would double your prudence.
    And know that God overlooks some of your iniquity.

⁷ “Can you search out the deep things of God?
    Can you find out the totality of the Almighty?
⁸ It is as high as heaven; what can you do?
    Deeper than Sheol; what can you know?
⁹ Its measure is longer than the earth
    and broader than the sea.

¹⁰ “If He passes through, and shuts up, and gathers together for judgment,
    then who can hinder Him?
¹¹ For He knows worthless men;
    He sees wickedness also; will He not then consider it?
¹² For an empty-headed man will become wise,
    when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.

¹³ “If you prepare your heart
    and stretch out your hands toward Him;
¹⁴ if iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
    and do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
¹⁵ for then you will lift up your face without blemish;
    yes, you will be steadfast and will not fear,
¹⁶ because you will forget misery,
    and remember it as waters that pass away,
¹⁷ and your life will be brighter than noonday,
    even your darkness will be as the morning.
¹⁸ You will trust because there is hope;
    yes, you will search about you,
    and you will look around and rest in safety.
¹⁹ Also you will lie down, and none will make you afraid;
    yes, many will court your favor.
²⁰ But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
    and they will not escape,
    and their hope will be as the giving up of breath.”