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11 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

“Should not the multitude of words be answered? Or should a great talker be justified?

“Should men hold their peace at your lies? And when you mock, shall no one make you ashamed?

“For you have said, ‘My doctrine is pure and I am clean in Your eyes.’

“But, oh that God would speak and open His Lips against you!

“So that He might show you the secrets of wisdom. How you have double, according to right. Know, therefore, that God has exacted from you less than your iniquity deserves.

“Can you search out the depths of God? Can you learn the limits of the Almighty?

“They are higher than the heavens. What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol. How can you know them?

“Their measure is longer than the Earth. And they are broader than the sea.

10 “If He cuts off and shuts up, or gathers together, who can turn Him back?

11 “For He knows vain men, and sees iniquity, and he who understands nothing.

12 “Yet vain man would be wise (though a man born is like a wild donkey colt)

13 “if you prepared your heart and stretched out your hands toward Him.

14 “If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away and let no wickedness dwell in your tent.

15 “Then, truly shall you lift up your face without spot, and shall be stable, and shall not fear.

16 “And you shall forget misery and remember it as waters that are past.

17 “Your lifetime shall appear clearer than the noonday, and shall shine as the morning.

18 “And you shall be bold because there is hope. And you shall dig pits and shall lie down safely.

19 “For when you take your rest, no one shall make you afraid. Yea, many shall pursue you.

20 “But the eyes of the wicked shall fail. And their refuge shall perish. And their hope shall be the giving up of the ghost.”

11 Next Tzofar the Na‘amati spoke up:

“Shouldn’t this torrent of words be answered?
Does talking a lot make a person right?
Is your babble supposed to put others to silence?
When you mock, is no one to make you ashamed?

“You claim that your teaching is pure;
you tell [God], ‘I am clean in your sight.’
I wish that God would speak,
would open his mouth to answer you,
would tell you the secrets of wisdom,
which is worth twice as much as common sense.
Understand that God is demanding of you
less than your guilt deserves.

“Can you penetrate God’s depths?
Can you find out Shaddai’s limits?
They’re as high as heaven; what can you do?
They’re deeper than Sh’ol; what can you know?
Their extent is longer than the earth
and broader than the sea.
10 If he passes through, puts in prison
and assembles [for judgment], who can prevent him?
11 For he knows when people are worthless;
so if he sees iniquity, won’t he look into it?

12 “An empty man can gain understanding,
even if he was born like a wild donkey.
13 If you will set your heart right,
if you will spread out your hands toward him,
14 if you will put your iniquity at a distance
and not let unrighteousness remain in your tents,
15 then when you lift up your face, there will be no defect;
you will be firm and free from fear.

16 “For you will forget your misery;
you’ll remember it like a flood that passed through long ago;
17 your life will be brighter than noon;
even its darkness will be like morning.
18 You will be confident, because there is hope;
you will look around you and lie down secure;
19 you will rest, and no one will make you afraid.
Many will seek your favor;
20 but the eyes of the wicked will fail [to find comfort].
They will find no way to escape,
and their hope will turn to complete disappointment.”