| King James Bible | NET Bible |
| 1Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, | 1Then Zophar the Naamathite spoke up and said: |
| 2Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? | 2"Should not this abundance of words be answered, or should this talkative man be vindicated? |
| 3Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? | 3Will your idle talk reduce people to silence, and will no one rebuke you when you mock? |
| 4For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. | 4For you have said, 'My teaching is flawless, 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, if only he would 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 reveal to you the secrets of wisdom--for true wisdom has two sides--so that you would know that God has forgiven some of your sins. |
| 7Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? | 7"Can you discover the essence of God? Can you find out the perfection of the Almighty? |
| 8It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? | 8It is higher than the heavens--what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol--what can you know? |
| 9The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. | 9Its measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. |
| 10If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him? | 10If he comes by and confines you and convenes a court, then who can prevent him? |
| 11For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it? | 11For he knows deceitful men; when he sees evil, will he not consider it? |
| 12For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt. | 12But an empty man will become wise, when a wild donkey's colt is born a human being. |
| 13If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him; | 13"As for you, if you prove faithful, and if you stretch out your hands toward him, |
| 14If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. | 14if iniquity is in your hand--put it far away, and do not let evil reside in your tents. |
| 15For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear: | 15For then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be securely established and will not fear. |
| 16Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away: | 16For you will forget your trouble; you will remember it like water that has flowed away. |
| 17And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. | 17And life will be brighter than the noonday; though there be darkness, it 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. | 18And you will be secure, because there is hope; you will be protected and will take your rest in safety. |
| 19Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee. | 19You will lie down with no one to make you afraid, and many will seek 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 fail, and escape eludes them; their one hope is to breathe their last." |
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