Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse
Then aZophar the Naamathite answered and said:
2 “Should aa multitude of words go unanswered,
and a man full of talk be judged right?
3 Should your babble silence men,
and when you mock, shall no one shame you?
4 For ayou say, ‘My bdoctrine is pure,
and I am clean in God’s eyes.’
5 But oh, that God would speak
and open his lips to you,
6 and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!
For he is manifold in aunderstanding.
Know then that God bexacts of you less than your guilt deserves.
7 a“Can you find out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
8 It is ahigher than 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 apasses through and bimprisons
and summons the court, who can cturn him back?
11 For he knows aworthless men;
when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?
12 But a stupid man will get understanding
when aa wild donkey’s colt is bborn a man!
13 “If you aprepare your heart,
you will bstretch out your hands toward him.
14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
and let not injustice dwell in your tents.
15 Surely then you will alift up your face without bblemish;
you will be secure and will not fear.
16 You will aforget your misery;
you will remember it as waters that have passed away.
17 And your life will be abrighter than the noonday;
its darkness will be like the morning.
18 And you will feel secure, because there is hope;
you will look around and atake your rest in security.
19 You will alie down, and none will make you afraid;
many will bcourt your favor.
20 But athe eyes of the wicked will fail;
all way of escape will be lost to them,
and their hope is bto breathe their last.”