| Holman Christian Standard Bible | New International Version |
| 1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: | 1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: |
| 2Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a talker be acquitted? | 2"Are all these words to go unanswered? Is this talker to be vindicated? |
| 3Should your babbling put others to silence, so that you can keep on ridiculing with no one to humiliate you? | 3Will your idle talk reduce others to silence? Will no one rebuke you when you mock? |
| 4You have said, "My teaching is sound, and I am pure in Your sight." | 4You say to God, 'My beliefs are flawless and I am pure in your sight.' |
| 5But if only God would speak and declare His case against you, | 5Oh, how I wish that God would speak, that he would open his lips against you |
| 6He would show you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God has chosen to overlook some of your sin. | 6and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin. |
| 7Can you fathom the depths of God or discover the limits of the Almighty? | 7"Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? |
| 8They are higher than the heavens--what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol--what can you know? | 8They are higher than the heavens above--what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below--what can you know? |
| 9Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. | 9Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. |
| 10If He passes by and throws someone in prison or convenes a court, who can stop Him? | 10"If he comes along and confines you in prison and convenes a court, who can oppose him? |
| 11Surely He knows which people are worthless. If He sees iniquity, will He not take note of it? | 11Surely he recognizes deceivers; and when he sees evil, does he not take note? |
| 12But a stupid man will gain understanding as soon as a wild donkey is born a man! | 12But the witless can no more become wise than a wild donkey's colt can be born human. |
| 13As for you, if you redirect your heart and lift up your hands to Him in prayer-- | 13"Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him, |
| 14if there is iniquity in your hand, remove it, and don't allow injustice to dwell in your tents-- | 14if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, |
| 15then you will hold your head high, free from fault. You will be firmly established and unafraid. | 15then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear. |
| 16For you will forget your suffering, recalling it only as waters that have flowed by. | 16You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. |
| 17Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning. | 17Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning. |
| 18You will be confident, because there is hope. You will look carefully about and lie down in safety. | 18You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. |
| 19You will lie down without fear, and many will seek your favor. | 19You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor. |
| 20But the sight of the wicked will fail. Their way of escape will be cut off, and their only hope is their last breath. | 20But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; their hope will become a dying gasp." |
| Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
|
    |