| New King James Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: | 1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, |
| 2“Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be vindicated? | 2"Shall a multitude of words go unanswered, And a talkative man be acquitted? |
| 3Should your empty talk make men hold their peace? And when you mock, should no one rebuke you? | 3"Shall your boasts silence men? And shall you scoff and none rebuke? |
| 4For you have said, ‘My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in your 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 against you, | 5"But would that God might 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 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 search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty? | 7"Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty? |
| 8They are 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? |
| 9Their measure is longer than the earth And broader than the sea. | 9"Its measure is longer than the earth And broader than the sea. |
| 10“If He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment, Then who can hinder Him? | 10"If He passes by or shuts up, Or calls an assembly, who can restrain Him? |
| 11For He knows deceitful men; He sees wickedness also. Will He not then consider it? | 11"For He knows false men, And He sees iniquity without investigating. |
| 12For an empty-headed man will be wise, 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 would prepare your heart, And stretch out your hands toward Him; | 13"If you would direct your heart right And spread out your hand to Him, |
| 14If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away, And would not let wickedness dwell in your tents; | 14If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, And do not let wickedness dwell in your tents; |
| 15Then surely you could lift up your face without spot; Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear; | 15"Then, indeed, you could lift up your face without moral defect, And you would be steadfast and not fear. |
| 16Because you would forget your misery, And 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 would be brighter than noonday. Though you were dark, you would be like the morning. | 17"Your life would be brighter than noonday; Darkness would 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. | 18"Then you would trust, because there is hope; And you would look around and rest securely. |
| 19You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid; Yes, many would 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, And they shall not escape, And their hope— loss of life!” | 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." |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. 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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