| New King James Version (NKJV) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
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1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
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2 "Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be vindicated?
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2 "Are all these words to go unanswered? Is this talker to be vindicated?
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3 Should your empty talk make men hold their peace? And when you mock, should no one rebuke you?
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3 Will your idle talk reduce men to silence? Will no one rebuke you when you mock?
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4 For you have said, 'My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in your eyes.'
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4 You say to God, 'My beliefs are flawless and I am pure in your sight.'
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5 But oh, that God would speak, And open His lips against you,
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5 Oh, how I wish that God would speak, that he would open his lips against you
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6 That He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For they would double your prudence. Know therefore that God exacts from you Less than your iniquity deserves.
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6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.
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7 "Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?
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7 "Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
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8 They are higher than heaven--what can you do? Deeper than Sheol--what can you know?
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8 They are higher than the heavens--what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave--what can you know?
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9 Their measure is longer than the earth And broader than the sea.
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9 Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
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10 "If He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment, Then who can hinder Him?
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10 "If he comes along and confines you in prison and convenes a court, who can oppose him?
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11 For He knows deceitful men; He sees wickedness also. Will He not then consider it?
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11 Surely he recognizes deceitful men; and when he sees evil, does he not take note?
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12 For an empty-headed man will be wise, When a wild donkey's colt is born a man.
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12 But a witless man can no more become wise than a wild donkey's colt can be born a man.
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13 "If you would prepare your heart, And stretch out your hands toward Him;
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13 "Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him,
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14 If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away, And would not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
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14 if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,
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15 Then surely you could lift up your face without spot; Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear;
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15 then you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear.
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16 Because you would forget your misery, And remember it as waters that have passed away,
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16 You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by.
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17 And your life would be brighter than noonday. Though you were dark, you would be like the morning.
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17 Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning.
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18 And you would be secure, because there is hope; Yes, you would dig around you, and take your rest in safety.
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18 You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.
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19 You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid; Yes, many would court your favor.
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19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor.
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20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail, And they shall not escape, And their hope--loss of life!"
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20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; their hope will become a dying gasp."
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| Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (New King James Version) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
