Zophar’s First Response to Job
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Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,
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"Should an abundance of words go unanswered, or {a man full of talk} be vindicated?
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Should your loose talk put people to silence? {And when you mock, shall no one put you to shame}?
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For you say, 'My teaching [is] pure, and I am clean in your sight.'
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But, {O that} God might speak, and [that] he would open his lips to you,
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and [that] he would tell you [the] secrets of wisdom, for {insight has many sides}. And know that God {on your behalf} has forgotten {some of} your guilt.
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"Can you find [out] the essence of God, or can you find [out] {the ultimate limits} of Shaddai?
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{It is higher than the heaven}; what can you do? [It is] deeper than Sheol; what can you know?
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Its measure [is] longer than [the] earth and broader than [the] sea.
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"If he passes through and imprisons someone {and summons the assembly}, then who can hinder him?
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For he knows {those who are worthless}; {when he sees} iniquity, {he will not consider it}.
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But {an empty-headed person} will get understanding when a wild donkey's colt is born [as] a human being.
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"If you yourself direct your heart and stretch out your hands to him--
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if iniquity [is] in your hand, put it far away, and you must not let wickedness reside in your tents--
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surely then you will lift up your face without blemish, and you will be firmly established and will not fear.
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For you yourself will forget your misery; you will remember [it] as water [that] has flowed past.
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"{And your life will be brighter than noon}; [its] darkness will be like the morning.
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And you will have confidence because there is hope; and you will be well protected--{you will sleep in safety}.
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And you will lie down, and {no one will make you afraid}; {and many will entreat your favor}.
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But [the] eyes of [the] wicked will fail; and refuge will be lost to them, and their hope [is] {to breathe their last breath}."
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.
(Lexham English Bible)
