| New American Standard Bible 1995 | NET Bible |
| 1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, | 1Then Zophar the Naamathite spoke up and said: |
| 2"Shall a multitude of words go unanswered, And a talkative man be acquitted? | 2"Should not this abundance of words be answered, or should this talkative man be vindicated? |
| 3"Shall your boasts silence men? And shall you scoff and none rebuke? | 3Will your idle talk reduce people to silence, and will no one rebuke you when you mock? |
| 4"For you have said, 'My teaching is pure, And I am innocent in your eyes.' | 4For you have said, 'My teaching is flawless, and I am pure in your sight.' |
| 5"But would that God might speak, And open His lips against you, | 5But if only God would speak, if only he would open his lips against you, |
| 6And show you the secrets of wisdom! For sound wisdom has two sides. Know then that God forgets a part of your iniquity. | 6and reveal to you the secrets of wisdom--for true wisdom has two sides--so that you would know that God has forgiven some of your sins. |
| 7"Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty? | 7"Can you discover the essence of God? Can you find out the perfection of the Almighty? |
| 8"They are high as the heavens, what can you do? Deeper than Sheol, what can you know? | 8It is higher than the heavens--what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol--what can you know? |
| 9"Its measure is longer than the earth And broader than the sea. | 9Its measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. |
| 10"If He passes by or shuts up, Or calls an assembly, who can restrain Him? | 10If he comes by and confines you and convenes a court, then who can prevent him? |
| 11"For He knows false men, And He sees iniquity without investigating. | 11For he knows deceitful men; when he sees evil, will he not consider it? |
| 12"An idiot will become intelligent When the foal of a wild donkey is born a man. | 12But an empty man will become wise, when a wild donkey's colt is born a human being. |
| 13"If you would direct your heart right And spread out your hand to Him, | 13"As for you, if you prove faithful, and if you 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; | 14if iniquity is in your hand--put it far away, and do not let evil reside in your tents. |
| 15"Then, indeed, you could lift up your face without moral defect, And you would be steadfast and not fear. | 15For then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be securely established and will not fear. |
| 16"For you would forget your trouble, As waters that have passed by, you would remember it. | 16For you will forget your trouble; you will remember it like water that has flowed away. |
| 17"Your life would be brighter than noonday; Darkness would be like the morning. | 17And life will be brighter than the noonday; though there be darkness, it will be like the morning. |
| 18"Then you would trust, because there is hope; And you would look around and rest securely. | 18And you will be secure, because there is hope; you will be protected and will take your rest in safety. |
| 19"You would lie down and none would disturb you, And many would entreat your favor. | 19You will lie down with no one to make you afraid, and many will seek your favor. |
| 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." | 20But the eyes of the wicked fail, and escape eludes them; their one hope is to breathe their last." |
| 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 | NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved. |
|
