Zophar Speaks: Job Is Guilty

¹Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:[#Job 2:11]

²“Should not the multitude of words be answered?[#Job 18:2; Pr 10:19]

And should a man full of talk be justified?

³Should your empty talk make men hold their peace?

And when you mock, will no one shame you?

⁴For you have said, ‘My teaching is pure,[#Job 6:10]

And I am clean in your eyes.’

⁵But oh, that God would speak

and open His lips against you,

⁶and that He would show you the secrets of wisdom!

For they would double your prudence.

And know that God overlooks some of your iniquity.

⁷“Can you search out the deep things of God?

Can you find out the totality of the Almighty?

⁸It is as high as heaven; what can you do?[#Job 22:12]

Deeper than Sheol; what can you know?

⁹Its measure is longer than the earth

and broader than the sea.

¹⁰“If He passes through, and imprisons, and gathers together for judgment,

then who can hinder Him?

¹¹For He knows worthless men;

He sees wickedness also; will He not then consider it?

¹²For an empty-headed man will become wise,

when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.

¹³“If you prepare your heart[#1Sa 7:3; Ps 78:8]

and stretch out your hands toward Him;

¹⁴if iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,

and do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;

¹⁵for then you will lift up your face without blemish;[#Job 22:26]

yes, you will be steadfast and will not fear,

¹⁶because you will forget misery,[#Isa 65:16]

and remember it as waters that pass away,

¹⁷and your life will be brighter than noonday,

even your darkness will be as the morning.

¹⁸You will trust because there is hope;

yes, you will search about you,

and you will look around and rest in safety.

¹⁹Also you will lie down, and none will make you afraid;

yes, many will court your favor.

²⁰But the eyes of the wicked will fail,[#Dt 28:65; Job 17:5]

and they will not escape,

and their hope will be as the giving up of breath.”