| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: | 1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: |
| 2“Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be vindicated? | 2“Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated? |
| 3Should your empty talk make men hold their peace? And when you mock, should no one rebuke you? | 3Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke? |
| 4For you have said, ‘My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in your eyes.’ | 4You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.’ |
| 5But oh, that God would speak, And open His lips against you, | 5But if only God would speak and open His lips against you, |
| 6That He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For they would double your prudence. Know therefore that God exacts from you Less than your iniquity deserves. | 6and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves. |
| 7“Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty? | 7Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty? |
| 8They are higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? | 8They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know? |
| 9Their measure is longer than the earth And broader than the sea. | 9Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. |
| 10“If He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment, Then who can hinder Him? | 10If He comes along to imprison you, or convenes a court, who can stop Him? |
| 11For He knows deceitful men; He sees wickedness also. Will He not then consider it? | 11Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note? |
| 12For an empty-headed man will be wise, When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man. | 12But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man! |
| 13“If you would prepare your heart, And stretch out your hands toward Him; | 13As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him, |
| 14If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away, And would not let wickedness dwell in your tents; | 14if you put away the iniquity in your hand, and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents, |
| 15Then surely you could lift up your face without spot; Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear; | 15then indeed you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and unafraid. |
| 16Because you would forget your misery, And remember it as waters that have passed away, | 16For you will forget your misery, recalling it only as waters gone by. |
| 17And your life would be brighter than noonday. Though you were dark, you would be like the morning. | 17Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning. |
| 18And you would be secure, because there is hope; Yes, you would dig around you, and take your rest in safety. | 18You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety. |
| 19You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid; Yes, many would court your favor. | 19You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor. |
| 20But the eyes of the wicked will fail, And they shall not escape, And their hope— loss of life!” | 20But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.” |
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