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Zophar the Naamathite replied:
2 “Should these many words go unanswered?
Will a man full of talk be vindicated?
3 Will your babble reduce men to silence?
Should no man rebuke you when you mock?
4 For you have said, ‘My teaching is sound,
and I am clean in Your sight’.
5 If only God would speak,
and open His lips against you,
6 so He could tell you the secrets of wisdom,
for true wisdom has two sides.
Know then that God has exacted even less than your sins deserve.
7 “Can you search out the deep things of God?
Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are higher than the heavens—what can you do?
They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
9 Their measure is longer than the earth,
and wider than the sea.
10 “If He passes by and imprisons,
or convenes a court of justice, who can hinder Him?
11 For He recognizes deceitful men;
and when He sees evil, does He not then consider it?
12 For a stupid man can no more become wise
than a wild donkey’s colt can be born a man!
13 “If you would direct your heart rightly,
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 shame;
you will be soundly established and unafraid.
16 You will forget your misery,
and remember it only as waters that have flowed by.
17 Life will shine brighter than noonday,
and darkness will become like the morning.
18 You will have confidence, because there is hope;
you will look around you, and take your rest in safety.
19 “You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,
and many will seek your favour.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
and there will be no escape for them;
their hope will be to breathe their last.”