| King James Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, | 1Zophar from Naamath had this to say: |
| 2Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? | 2"Shouldn't a multitude of words be answered, or a person who talks too much be vindicated? |
| 3Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? | 3Will your irrational babble silence people, and when you mock them, will you escape without being shamed? |
| 4For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. | 4You've said, 'My teaching is flawless; I'm clean in God's sight.' |
| 5But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee; | 5"But what if God were to speak? What if he were to talk with 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 his wise secrets? After all, there's so much more to understanding. So be aware that God will exact from you less than your sin deserves." |
| 7Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? | 7"Can you search through God's complex things? Can you uncover the limits of the Almighty? |
| 8It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? | 8These things are higher than the heavens, so what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol, so what can you know? |
| 9The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. | 9They are longer than the earth's circumference, and broader than the ocean. |
| 10If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him? | 10"If he bypasses, or imprisons, or convenes a court, who can stop him? |
| 11For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it? | 11For he knows mankind's deceitfulness; when he sees iniquity, won't he himself consider it? |
| 12For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt. | 12An empty-headed person will gain understanding when a wild donkey is born a human being!" |
| 13If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him; | 13"Now for you, if you will prepare your heart, spread out your hands to him. |
| 14If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. | 14If you have any iniquity, throw it far away. Don't let evil live in your residence. |
| 15For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear: | 15Then your confidence will be flawless, and your security will keep you from terror. |
| 16Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away: | 16You'll forget your suffering; you'll remember it like water that has evaporated. |
| 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. Even its darkness will be like dawn. |
| 18And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety. | 18You'll be secure, because there is hope; you'll see that you're at rest and safe. |
| 19Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee. | 19When you sleep, there'll be nothing to 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 what the wicked look for will fail; their way of escape will be taken away from them; their only hope is to take their final breath." |
| King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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