2Should not the multitude of words be answered?

And should a man full of talk be accounted right?

3Thy boastings have made men hold their peace,

And thou hast mocked, with none to make thee ashamed;

4And thou hast said: ‘My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in Thine eyes.’

5But oh that God would speak,

And open His lips against thee;

6And that He would tell thee the secrets of wisdom,

That sound wisdom is manifold!

Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

7Canst thou find out the deep things of God?

Canst thou attain unto the purpose of the Almighty?

8It is high as heaven; what canst thou do?

Deeper than the nether-world; what canst thou know?

9The measure thereof is longer than the earth,

And broader than the sea.

10If He pass by, and shut up,

Or gather in, then who can hinder Him?

11For He knoweth base men;

And when He seeth iniquity, will He not then consider it?

12But an empty man will get understanding,

When a wild ass’s colt is born a man.

13If thou set thy heart aright,

And stretch out thy hands toward Him—

14If iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away,

And let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents—

15Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot;

Yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear;

16For thou shalt forget thy misery;

Thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away;

17And thy life shall be clearer than the noonday;

Though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.

18And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope;

Yea, thou shalt look about thee, and shalt take thy rest in safety.

19Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid;

Yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

20But the eyes of the wicked shall fail,

And they shall have no way to flee,

And their hope shall be the drooping of the soul.