Online Bible

Zophar Rebukes Job

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

2 “Shall a multitude of words not be answered?And should a ^atalkative man making such a long-winded defense be acquitted?3 “Should your boasts and babble silence men?And shall you ^ascoff and no one put you to shame?4 “For ^ayou have said, ‘My teaching (doctrine) that God knowingly afflicts the righteous is pure,And ^bI am innocent in your eyes.’ Job 10:75 “But oh, that God would speak,And open His lips to speak against you,6 And that He would show you the secrets of wisdom!For ^asound wisdom ¹has two sides.Know therefore that God forgets a part of ^byour wickedness and guilt.

7 “^aCan you discover the depths of God?Can you by searching discover the limits of the Almighty ascend to His heights, extend to His widths, and comprehend His infinite perfection?8 “His wisdom is as ^ahigh as the heights of heaven. What can you do?It is deeper than ^bSheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) . What can you know?9 “It is longer in measure and scope than the earth,And broader than the sea.10 “If God passes by or arrests,Or calls an assembly of judgment, ^awho can restrain Him?If He is against a man, who can call Him to account for it?11 “For ^aHe recognizes and knows false and worthless men,And He ^bsees wickedness, will He not consider it?12 “But ^aa hollow (empty-headed) man will become intelligent and wiseOnly when the ¹^bcolt of a wild donkey is born as a man.

13 “^aIf you direct your ^bheart on the right pathAnd ^cstretch out your hands to Him,14 If sin is in your hand, put it ^afar away from you,And do not let wrongdoing dwell in your tents;15 Then, indeed, you could ^alift up your face to Him without moral defect,And you would be firmly established and secure and ^bnot fear.16 “For you would ^aforget your trouble;You would remember it as ^bwaters that have passed by.17 “And your ¹life would be ^abrighter than the noonday;Darkness then would be like the morning.18 “Then you would trust with confidence, because there is hope;You would look around you and rest securely.19 “You would ^alie down with no one to frighten you,And many would ^bentreat and seek your favor.20 “But the ^aeyes of the wicked will fail,And they will ^bnot escape the justice of God;And their ^chope is ^dto breathe their last and die.”

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Zophar Asks, Can You Find the Depths of God?

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

2 “Shall a multitude of words go unanswered,And a ^aman of lips be in the right?3 “Shall your boasts silence men?And shall you ^amock and none rebuke?4 “^aYou have said, ‘My learning is pure,And ^bI am innocent in your eyes.’5 “But would that God might speak,And open His lips against you,6 And tell you the secrets of wisdom!For sound wisdom ¹^ahas two sides.Know then that God ²forgets a part of ^byour iniquity.

7 “^aCan you find the depths of God?Can you find the limits of the Almighty?8 “They are ^ahigh as ¹the heavens, what can you do?Deeper than ^bSheol, what can you know?9 “Its measure is longer than the earthAnd broader than the sea.10 “If He sweeps by or shuts up,Or calls an assembly, ^awho can turn Him around?11 “For ^aHe knows worthless men,And He ^bsees wickedness, ¹so will He not carefully consider it?12 “¹^aYet an empty headed man will obtain a heart of wisdom,And the ²foal of a ^bwild donkey is born a man.

13 “^aIf you would ^bset your heart rightAnd ^cspread out your hand to Him,14 If wickedness is in your hand, ^aput it far away,And do not let unrighteousness dwell in your tents;15 Then, indeed, you could ^alift up your face without moral defect,And you would be steadfast and ^bnot fear.16 “For you would ^aforget your trouble,As ^bwaters that pass by, so you would remember it.17 “And your lifetime would ^aarise brighter than noonday;Darkness would be like the morning.18 “Then you would trust, because there is hope;And you would search around and rest securely.19 “You would ^alie down and none would make you tremble,And many would ^bentreat your ¹favor.20 “But the ^aeyes of the wicked will come to an end,And escape will ^bperish from them;And their ^chope is ^dthe expiring of their soul.”

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Zophar Rebukes Job

Then Zophar the Naamathite responded,

2 “Shall a multitude of words go unanswered,And a ^atalkative man be acquitted?3 “Shall your boasts silence people?And will you ^ascoff, and no one rebuke?4 “For ^ayou have said, ‘My teaching is pure,And ^bI am innocent in your eyes.’5 “But if only God would speak,And open His lips against you,6 And show you the secrets of wisdom!For sound wisdom ¹^ahas two sides.Know then that God ²forgets part of ^byour guilt.

7 “^aCan you discover the depths of God?Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?8 “They are as ^ahigh as ¹the heavens; what can you do?Deeper than ²^bSheol; what can you know?9 “Its measurement is longer than the earthAnd broader than the sea.10 “If He passes by or apprehends people,Or calls an assembly, ^awho can restrain Him?11 “For ^aHe knows false people,And He ^bsees injustice ¹without investigating.12 “¹^aAn idiot will become intelligentWhen a ^bwild donkey is born a human.

13 “^aIf you would ^bdirect your heart rightlyAnd ^cspread out your hands to Him,14 If wrongdoing is in your hand, ^aput it far away,And do not let malice dwell in your tents;15 Then, indeed, you could ^alift up your face without moral blemish,And you would be firmly established and ^bnot fear.16 “For you would ^aforget your trouble;Like ^bwaters that have passed by, you would remember it.17 “Your ¹life would ²be ^abrighter than noonday;Darkness would be like the morning.18 “Then you would trust, because there is hope;And you would look around and rest securely.19 “You would ^alie down and none would disturb you,And many would ¹^bflatter you.20 “But the ^aeyes of the wicked will fail,And ¹there will ^bbe no escape for them;And their ^chope is ²^dto breathe their last.”