King James Version KJV
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
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Next Tzofar the Na'amati spoke up:
2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
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"Shouldn't this torrent of words be answered? Does talking a lot make a person right?
3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
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Is your babble supposed to put others to silence? When you mock, is no one to make you ashamed?
4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.
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"You claim that your teaching is pure; you tell [God], 'I am clean in your sight.'
5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
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I wish that God would speak, would open his mouth to answer you,
6 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.
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would tell you the secrets of wisdom, which is worth twice as much as common sense. Understand that God is demanding of you less than your guilt deserves.
7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
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"Can you penetrate God's depths? Can you find out Shaddai's limits?
8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
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They're as high as heaven; what can you do? They're deeper than Sh'ol; what can you know?
9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
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Their extent is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.
10 If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?
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If he passes through, puts in prison and assembles [for judgment], who can prevent him?
11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?
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For he knows when people are worthless; so if he sees iniquity, won't he look into it?
12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.
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"An empty man can gain understanding, even if he was born like a wild donkey.
13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
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If you will set your heart right, if you will spread out your hands toward him,
14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
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if you will put your iniquity at a distance and not let unrighteousness remain in your tents,
15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
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then when you lift up your face, there will be no defect; you will be firm and free from fear.
16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:
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"For you will forget your misery; you'll remember it like a flood that passed through long ago;
17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
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your life will be brighter than noon; even its darkness will be like morning.
18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
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You will be confident, because there is hope; you will look around you and lie down secure;
19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
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you will rest, and no one will make you afraid. Many will seek your favor;
20 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.
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but the eyes of the wicked will fail [to find comfort]. They will find no way to escape, and their hope will turn to complete disappointment."