Then answered Zophar
the Naamathite
, and said
,
Should not the multitude of words
be answered
? and should a man
full of talk
be justified
?
Should thy lies make
men
hold their peace
? and when thou mockest
, shall no man make thee ashamed
?
For thou hast said, My doctrine
is pure
, and I am clean
in thine eyes
.
But oh that
God
would speak
, and open
his lips
against thee;
And that he would shew thee the secrets
of wisdom
, that they are double
to that which is
! Know
therefore that God
exacteth
of thee less than thine iniquity
deserveth .
Canst thou by searching find out
God
? canst thou find
out the Almighty
unto perfection
?
It is as high as heaven
; what canst thou do
? deeper
than hell
; what canst thou know
?
The measure thereof is longer
than the earth
, and broader
than the sea
.
If he cut off, and shut up
, or gather together
, then who can hinder
him?
For he knoweth vain
men
: he seeth
wickedness
also; will he not then consider
it ?
For vain man
would be wise
, though man
be born
like a wild ass's
colt
.
If thou prepare thine heart
, and stretch
out thine hands
toward him;
If iniquity be in thine hand
, put it far away
, and let not wickedness
dwell
in thy tabernacles
.
For then shalt thou lift up thy face
without spot
; yea, thou shalt be stedfast
, and shalt not fear
:
Because thou shalt forget thy misery
, and remember
it as waters
that pass away
:
And thine age shall be clearer
than the noonday
; thou shalt shine forth
, thou shalt be as the morning
.
And thou shalt be secure, because there is
hope
; yea, thou shalt dig
about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest
in safety
.
Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid
; yea, many
shall make suit
unto thee
.
But the eyes of the wicked
shall fail
, and they shall not escape
, and their hope
shall be as the giving up
of the ghost
.