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The First Speech of Zophar

11 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied,

“Don’t all your words require an answer?
    I’m sure that what you are saying can’t be right.
Your useless talk won’t keep us quiet.
    Someone has to correct you when you make fun of truth.
You say to God, ‘My beliefs are perfect.
    I’m pure in your sight.’
I wish God would speak.
    I wish he’d answer you.
I wish he’d show you the secrets of wisdom.
    After all, true wisdom has two sides.
Here’s what I want you to know.
    God has forgotten some of your sins.

“Do you know how deep the mysteries of God are?
    Can you discover the limits of the Mighty One’s knowledge?
They are higher than the heavens above.
    What can you do?
They are deeper than the deepest parts of the earth below.
    What can you know?
They are longer than the earth.
    They are wider than the ocean.

10 “Suppose God comes along and puts you in prison.
    Suppose he takes you to court.
    Then who can oppose him?
11 He certainly knows when people tell lies.
    When he sees evil, he pays careful attention to it.
12 A wild donkey’s colt can’t be born a human being.
    And it’s just as impossible that a person without sense can become wise.

13 “So commit yourself to God completely.
    Reach out your hands to him for help.
14 Get rid of all the sin you have.
    Don’t let anything that is evil stay in your tent.
15 Then, free of those things, you can face others.
    You can stand firm without being afraid.
16 You can be sure you will forget your troubles.
    They will be like water that has flowed on by.
17 Life will be brighter than the sun at noon.
    And darkness will become like morning.
18 You will be secure, because there is hope.
    You will look around you and find a safe place to rest.
19 You will lie down, and no one will make you afraid.
    Many people will want you to help them.
20 But sinful people won’t find what they are looking for.
    They won’t be able to escape.
    All they can hope for is to die.”

Zophar

11 Then Zophar the Naamathite(A) replied:

“Are all these words to go unanswered?(B)
    Is this talker to be vindicated?(C)
Will your idle talk(D) reduce others to silence?
    Will no one rebuke you when you mock?(E)
You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless(F)
    and I am pure(G) in your sight.’
Oh, how I wish that God would speak,(H)
    that he would open his lips against you
and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,(I)
    for true wisdom has two sides.
    Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.(J)

“Can you fathom(K) the mysteries of God?
    Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
They are higher(L) than the heavens(M) above—what can you do?
    They are deeper than the depths below(N)—what can you know?(O)
Their measure(P) is longer than the earth
    and wider than the sea.(Q)

10 “If he comes along and confines you in prison
    and convenes a court, who can oppose him?(R)
11 Surely he recognizes deceivers;
    and when he sees evil, does he not take note?(S)
12 But the witless can no more become wise
    than a wild donkey’s colt(T) can be born human.[a](U)

13 “Yet if you devote your heart(V) to him
    and stretch out your hands(W) to him,(X)
14 if you put away(Y) the sin that is in your hand
    and allow no evil(Z) to dwell in your tent,(AA)
15 then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;(AB)
    you will stand firm(AC) and without fear.(AD)
16 You will surely forget your trouble,(AE)
    recalling it only as waters gone by.(AF)
17 Life will be brighter than noonday,(AG)
    and darkness will become like morning.(AH)
18 You will be secure, because there is hope;
    you will look about you and take your rest(AI) in safety.(AJ)
19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,(AK)
    and many will court your favor.(AL)
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,(AM)
    and escape will elude them;(AN)
    their hope will become a dying gasp.”(AO)

Footnotes

  1. Job 11:12 Or wild donkey can be born tame