| King James Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, | 1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: |
| 2Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? | 2“Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated? |
| 3Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? | 3Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke? |
| 4For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine 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 thee; | 5But if only God would speak and open His lips against you, |
| 6And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. | 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. |
| 7Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? | 7Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty? |
| 8It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? | 8They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know? |
| 9The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. | 9Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. |
| 10If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him? | 10If He comes along to imprison you, or convenes a court, who can stop Him? |
| 11For he knoweth vain men: he seeth 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 vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt. | 12But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man! |
| 13If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him; | 13As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him, |
| 14If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. | 14if you put away the iniquity in your hand, and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents, |
| 15For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear: | 15then indeed you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and unafraid. |
| 16Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away: | 16For you will forget your misery, recalling it only as waters gone by. |
| 17And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. | 17Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning. |
| 18And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety. | 18You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety. |
| 19Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee. | 19You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor. |
| 20But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost. | 20But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.” |
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