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v1
Then ^[Hebrew “And”] Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,
v2
“Should an abundance of words go unanswered, or a man full of talk ^[Literally “a man of lips”] be vindicated? ^[Hebrew “should he be vindicated”]
v3
Should your loose talk put people to silence? And when you mock, shall no one put you to shame? ^[Literally “And you will mock there is not putting to shame”]
v4
For you say, ‘My teaching is pure, and I am clean in your sight.‘
v5
But, ^[Hebrew “And but”] O that ^[Literally “who shall give”] God might speak, and that he would open his lips to you,
v6
and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom, for insight has many sides. ^[Literally “double to sound wisdom”] And know that God on your behalf ^[Literally “for you”] has forgotten some of ^[Literally “from”] your guilt.
v7
“Can you find out the essence of God, or can you find out the ultimate limits ^[Literally “up to the limit”] of Shaddai?
v8
It is higher than the heaven; ^[Literally “heights of heaven”] what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol; what can you know?
v9
Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.
v10
“If he passes through and imprisons someone ^[Hebrew “and he imprisons”] and summons the assembly, ^[Literally “and he summons”] then ^[Hebrew “and”] who can hinder him?
v11
For he knows those who are worthless; ^[Literally “men of worthlessness”] when he sees ^[Literally “And he will see”] iniquity, he will not consider it. ^[Literally “and he will not consider”]
v12
But ^[Hebrew “And”] an empty-headed person ^[Literally “a man hollowed out”] will get understanding when ^[Hebrew “and”] a wild donkey’s colt is born as a human being.
v13
“If you yourself ^[Emphatic personal pronoun] direct your heart and stretch out your hands to him—
v14
if iniquity ^[See v. 11, where the same word is used] is in your hand, put it far away, and you must not let wickedness reside in your tents—
v15
surely then you will lift up your face without ^[Hebrew “from”] blemish, and you will be firmly established and will not fear. ^[Hebrew “and not will you fear”]
v16
For you yourself ^[Emphatic personal pronoun] will forget your misery; you will remember it as water that has flowed past.
v17
“And your life will be brighter than noon; ^[Literally “And from noon lifespan will arise”] its darkness will be like the morning.
v18
And you will have confidence because there is hope; and you will be well protected—you will sleep in safety. ^[Literally “you will lie down securely”]
v19
And you will lie down, and no one will make you afraid; ^[Literally “there is not making afraid”] and many will entreat your favor. ^[Literally “and they will appease/implore your faces many”]
v20
But ^[Hebrew “And”] the eyes of the wicked will fail; and refuge will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last breath.” ^[Literally “the expiring of soul”]