Zophar Rebukes Job
Then Zophar the Naamathite responded,
2 “Shall a multitude of words go unanswered,And a atalkative man be acquitted?Job 8:2; 15:2; 18:23 “Shall your boasts silence people?And will you ascoff, and no one rebuke?Job 17:2; 21:34 “For ayou have said, ‘My teaching is pure,And bI am innocent in your eyes.’Job 6:10Job 10:75 “But if only God would speak,And open His lips against you,6 And show you the secrets of wisdom!For sound wisdom 1ahas two sides.Know then that God 2forgets part of byour guilt.Lit is doubleLit causes to be forgotten for youJob 9:4Job 15:5; 22:5
7 “aCan you discover the depths of God?Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?Job 33:12, 13; 36:26; 37:5, 23; Rom 11:338 “They are as ahigh as 1the heavens; what can you do?Deeper than 2bSheol; what can you know?Lit the heights of heavenI.e., the netherworldJob 22:12; 35:5Job 26:6; 38:179 “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?Job 9:1211 “For aHe knows false people,And He bsees injustice 1without investigating.Or and does not investigateJob 34:21-23Job 24:23; 28:24; 31:412 “1aAn idiot will become intelligentWhen a bwild donkey is born a human.Lit A hollow manPs 39:5, 11; 62:9; 144:4; Eccl 1:2; 11:10Job 39:5
13 “aIf you would bdirect your heart rightlyAnd cspread out your hands to Him,Job 5:17-27; 11:13-201 Sam 7:3; Ps 78:8Job 22:27; Ps 88:9; 143:614 If wrongdoing is in your hand, aput it far away,And do not let malice dwell in your tents;Job 22:2315 Then, indeed, you could alift up your face without moral blemish,And you would be firmly established and bnot fear.Job 22:26Ps 27:3; 46:216 “For you would aforget your trouble;Like bwaters that have passed by, you would remember it.Is 65:16Job 22:1117 “Your 1life would 2be abrighter than noonday;Darkness would be like the morning.Lit lifespanLit rise above noondayJob 22:2618 “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 1bflatter you.Lit soften your faceLev 26:6; Is 17:2; Mic 4:4; Zeph 3:13Is 45:1420 “But the aeyes of the wicked will fail,And 1there will bbe no escape for them;And their chope is 2dto breathe their last.”Lit escape has perished from themLit the expiring of the soulDeut 28:65; Job 17:5Job 27:22; 34:22Job 8:13Job 6:9