New International Version NIV
American Standard Version ASV
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
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Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2 “Are all these words to go unanswered? Is this talker to be vindicated?
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Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be justified?
3 Will your idle talk reduce others to silence? Will no one rebuke you when you mock?
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Should thy boastings make men hold their peace? And when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
4 You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless and I am pure in your sight.’
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For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in thine eyes.
5 Oh, how I wish that God would speak, that he would open his lips against you
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But oh that God would speak, And open his lips against thee,
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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And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
7 “Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
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Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
8 They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know?
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It is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than Sheol; What canst thou know?
9 Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
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The measure thereof is longer than the earth, And broader than the sea.
10 “If he comes along and confines you in prison and convenes a court, who can oppose him?
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If he pass through, and shut up, And all unto judgment, then who can hinder him?
11 Surely he recognizes deceivers; and when he sees evil, does he not take note?
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For he knoweth false men: He seeth iniquity also, even though he consider it not.
12 But the witless can no more become wise than a wild donkey’s colt can be born human.
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But vain man is void of understanding, Yea, man is born [as] a wild ass's colt.
13 “Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him,
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If thou set thy heart aright, And stretch out thy hands toward him;
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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If iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away, And let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents.
15 then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear.
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Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; Yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
16 You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by.
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For thou shalt forget thy misery; Thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away,
17 Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning.
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And [thy] life shall be clearer than the noonday; Though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.
18 You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.
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And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; Yea, thou shalt search [about thee], and shalt take thy rest in safety.
19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor.
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Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; Yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
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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But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, And they shall have no way to flee; And their hope shall be the giving up of the ghost.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.