Then Zophar the Naamathite
1answered
,
"Shall a multitude of words
go
unanswered
, And a atalkative
man
be acquitted
?
"Shall your boasts silence
men
? And shall you ascoff
and none
rebuke
?
"For ayou have said, `My teaching
is pure
, And bI am
innocent
in your eyes
.'
"But would that God
might speak
, And open
His lips
against
you,
And show you the secrets
of wisdom
! For sound
wisdom
1 ahas two
sides
. Know
then that God
2forgets
a part of byour iniquity
.
" aCan you discover the depths
of God
? Can you discover
the limits
of the Almighty
?
"They are ahigh as 1the heavens
, what
can you do
? Deeper
than
2 bSheol
, what
can you know
?
"Its measure is longer
than
the earth
And broader
than
the sea
.
"If He passes
by or shuts
up, Or calls
an assembly
, awho
can restrain
Him?
"For aHe knows false
men
, And He bsees
iniquity
1without
investigating
.
" 1 aAn idiot will become
intelligent
When the 2foal
of a bwild
donkey
is born
a man
.
" aIf you would bdirect
your heart
right
And cspread
out your hand
to Him,
If iniquity
is in your hand
, aput
it far
away
, And do not let wickedness
dwell
in your tents
;
"Then, indeed
, you could alift
up your face
without
moral defect
, And you would be steadfast
and bnot fear
.
"For you would aforget your trouble
, As bwaters
that have passed
by, you would remember
it.
"Your 1life would be 2 abrighter
than
noonday
; Darkness
would be like the morning
.
"Then you would trust, because
there
is hope
; And you would look
around
and rest
securely
.
"You would alie down
and none
would disturb
you, And many
would bentreat
your 1favor
.
"But the aeyes of the wicked
will fail
, And 1there will bbe no
escape
for them; And their chope
is 2 dto breathe
their last
."