| English Standard Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: | 1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, |
| 2“Should a multitude of words go unanswered, and a man full of talk be judged right? | 2"Shall a multitude of words go unanswered, And a talkative man be acquitted? |
| 3Should your babble silence men, and when you mock, shall no one shame you? | 3"Shall your boasts silence men? And shall you scoff and none rebuke? |
| 4For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in God’s eyes.’ | 4"For you have said, 'My teaching is pure, And I am innocent in your eyes.' |
| 5But oh, that God would speak and open his lips to you, | 5"But would that God might speak, And open His lips against you, |
| 6and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves. | 6And show you the secrets of wisdom! For sound wisdom has two sides. Know then that God forgets a part of your iniquity. |
| 7“Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? | 7"Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty? |
| 8It is higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? | 8"They are high as the heavens, what can you do? Deeper than Sheol, what can you know? |
| 9Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea. | 9"Its measure is longer than the earth And broader than the sea. |
| 10If he passes through and imprisons and summons the court, who can turn him back? | 10"If He passes by or shuts up, Or calls an assembly, who can restrain Him? |
| 11For he knows worthless men; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it? | 11"For He knows false men, And He sees iniquity without investigating. |
| 12But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man! | 12"An idiot will become intelligent When the foal of a wild donkey is born a man. |
| 13“If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him. | 13"If you would direct your heart right And spread out your hand to Him, |
| 14If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents. | 14If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, And do not let wickedness dwell in your tents; |
| 15Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear. | 15"Then, indeed, you could lift up your face without moral defect, And you would be steadfast and not fear. |
| 16You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away. | 16"For you would forget your trouble, As waters that have passed by, you would remember it. |
| 17And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning. | 17"Your life would be brighter than noonday; Darkness would be like the morning. |
| 18And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security. | 18"Then you would trust, because there is hope; And you would look around and rest securely. |
| 19You will lie down, and none will make you afraid; many will court your favor. | 19"You would lie down and none would disturb you, And many would entreat your favor. |
| 20But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last.” | 20"But the eyes of the wicked will fail, And there will be no escape for them; And their hope is to breathe their last." |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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