| New International Version | English Standard Version |
| 1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: | 1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: |
| 2"Are all these words to go unanswered? Is this talker to be vindicated? | 2“Should a multitude of words go unanswered, and a man full of talk be judged right? |
| 3Will your idle talk reduce others to silence? Will no one rebuke you when you mock? | 3Should your babble silence men, and when you mock, shall no one shame you? |
| 4You say to God, 'My beliefs are flawless and I am pure in your sight.' | 4For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in God’s eyes.’ |
| 5Oh, how I wish that God would speak, that he would open his lips against you | 5But oh, that God would speak and open his lips to you, |
| 6and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin. | 6and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves. |
| 7"Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? | 7“Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? |
| 8They are higher than the heavens above--what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below--what can you know? | 8It is higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? |
| 9Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. | 9Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea. |
| 10"If he comes along and confines you in prison and convenes a court, who can oppose him? | 10If he passes through and imprisons and summons the court, who can turn him back? |
| 11Surely he recognizes deceivers; and when he sees evil, does he not take note? | 11For he knows worthless men; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it? |
| 12But the witless can no more become wise than a wild donkey's colt can be born human. | 12But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man! |
| 13"Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him, | 13“If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him. |
| 14if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, | 14If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents. |
| 15then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear. | 15Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear. |
| 16You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. | 16You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away. |
| 17Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning. | 17And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning. |
| 18You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. | 18And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security. |
| 19You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor. | 19You will lie down, and none will make you afraid; many will court your favor. |
| 20But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; their hope will become a dying gasp." | 20But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last.” |
| 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. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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