1 Zophar Urges Job to Repent Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
2 “Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be vindicated?
3 Should your empty talk make men hold their peace? And when you mock, should no one rebuke you?
4 For you have said, Job 6:30 ‘My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in your eyes.’
5 But oh, that God would speak, And open His lips against you,
6 That He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For they would double your prudence. Know therefore that (Ezra 9:13) God exacts from you Less than your iniquity deserves.
7 “Can Job 33:12, 13; 36:26; (Eccl. 3:11; Rom. 11:33) you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are higher than heaven— what can you do? Deeper than Sheol— what can you know?
9 Their measure is longer than the earth And broader than the sea.
10 “If Job 9:12; (Rev. 3:7) He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment, Then who can hinder Him?
11 For (Ps. 10:14) He knows deceitful men; He sees wickedness also. Will He not then consider it?
12 For an (Ps. 39:5); Rom. 1:22 empty-headed man will be wise, When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.
13 “If you would (1 Sam. 7:3) prepare your heart, And Ps. 88:9 stretch out your hands toward Him;
14 If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away, And Ps. 101:3 would not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
15 Job 22:26; Ps. 119:6; (1 John 3:21) Then surely you could lift up your face without spot; Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear;
16 Because you would Is. 65:16 forget your misery, And remember it as waters that have passed away,
17 And your life Ps. 37:6; Prov. 4:18; Is. 58:8, 10 would be brighter than noonday. Though you were dark, you would be like the morning.
18 And you would be secure, because there is hope; Yes, you would dig around you, and Lev. 26:5, 6; Ps. 3:5; Prov. 3:24 take your rest in safety.
19 You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid; Yes, many would court your favor.
20 But Lev. 26:16; Deut. 28:65; Job 17:5 the eyes of the wicked will fail, And they shall not escape, And Job 18:14; (Prov. 11:7) their hope—loss of life!”