Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse

11 Then dZophar the Naamathite answered and said:

2  “Should ea multitude of words go unanswered,

and a man full of talk be judged right?

3  Should your babble silence men,

and when you mock, shall no one shame you?

4  For fyou say, ‘My gdoctrine is pure,

and I am clean in God’s1 eyes.’

5  But oh, that God would speak

and open his lips to you,

6  and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!

For he is manifold in hunderstanding.2

Know then that God iexacts of you less than your guilt deserves.

7  j“Can you find out the deep things of God?

Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?

8  It is khigher than heaven3—what can you do?

Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

9  Its measure is longer than the earth

and broader than the sea.

10  If he lpasses through and mimprisons

and summons the court, who can nturn him back?

11  For he knows oworthless men;

when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?

12  But a stupid man will get understanding

when pa wild donkey’s colt is qborn a man!

13  “If you rprepare your heart,

you will sstretch out your hands toward him.

14  If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,

and let not injustice dwell in your tents.

15  Surely then you will tlift up your face without ublemish;

you will be secure and will not fear.

16  You will vforget your misery;

you will remember it as waters that have passed away.

17  And your life will be wbrighter than the noonday;

its darkness will be like the morning.

18  And you will feel secure, because there is hope;

you will look around and xtake your rest in security.

19  You will xlie down, and none will make you afraid;

many will ycourt your favor.

20  But zthe eyes of the wicked will fail;

all way of escape will be lost to them,

and their hope is ato breathe their last.”