Zophar Rebukes Job

¹ Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

² “Should this stream of words go unanswered

and such a speaker be vindicated?

³ Should your babbling put others to silence?

Will you scoff without rebuke?

⁴ You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound,

and I am pure in Your sight.’

⁵ But if only God would speak

and open His lips against you,

⁶ and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,

for true wisdom has two sides.

Know then that God exacts from you

less than your iniquity deserves.^*

⁷ Can you fathom the deep things of God

or discover the limits of the Almighty?

⁸ They are higher than the heavens— what can you do?

They are deeper than Sheol— what can you know?

⁹ Their measure is longer than the earth

and wider than the sea.

¹⁰ If He comes along to imprison you,

or convenes a court,^* who can stop Him?

¹¹ Surely He knows the deceit of men.

If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?

¹² But a witless man can no more become wise

than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man!

¹³ As for you, if you direct your heart

and lift up your hands to Him,

¹⁴ if you put away the iniquity in your hand,

and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents,

¹⁵ then indeed you will lift up your face without blemish;

you will stand firm and unafraid.

¹⁶ For you will forget your misery,

recalling it only as waters gone by.

¹⁷ Your life will be brighter than noonday;

its darkness^* will be like the morning.

¹⁸ You will be secure, because there is hope,

and you will look around^* and lie down in safety.

¹⁹ You will lie down without fear,

and many will court your favor.

²⁰ But the eyes of the wicked will fail,

and escape will elude them;

they will hope for their last breath.”