5 Oh, how I wish that God would speak,

that he would open his lips against you

6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,

for true wisdom has two sides.

Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.

7 “Can you fathom the mysteries of God?

Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

8 They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do?

They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know?

9 Their measure is longer than the earth

and wider than the sea.

10 “If he comes along and confines you in prison

and convenes a court, who can oppose him?

11 Surely he recognizes deceivers;

and when he sees evil, does he not take note?

12 But the witless can no more become wise

than a wild donkey’s colt can be born human.

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 understanding.

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

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

Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?

8 It is higher than heaven—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 passes through and imprisons

and summons the court, who can turn him back?

11 For he knows worthless men;

when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?

12 But a stupid man will get understanding

when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man!

5 If only God would speak;

if only he would tell you what he thinks!

6 If only he would tell you the secrets of wisdom,

for true wisdom is not a simple matter.

Listen! God is doubtless punishing you

far less than you deserve!

7 “Can you solve the mysteries of God?

Can you discover everything about the Almighty?

8 Such knowledge is higher than the heavens—

and who are you?

It is deeper than the underworld—

what do you know?

9 It is broader than the earth

and wider than the sea.

10 If God comes and puts a person in prison

or calls the court to order, who can stop him?

11 For he knows those who are false,

and he takes note of all their sins.

12 An empty-headed person won’t become wise

any more than a wild donkey can bear a human child.

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 God exacts from you

Less than your iniquity deserves.

7 “Can 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 He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment,

Then who can hinder Him?

11 For He knows deceitful men;

He sees wickedness also.

Will He not then consider it?

12 For an empty-headed man will be wise,

When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.

5 I wish God would speak

and open his lips against you

6 and tell you the secrets of wisdom,

because wisdom has two sides.

Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.

7 “Can you understand the secrets of God?

Can you search the limits of the Almighty?

8 His limits are higher than the heavens; you cannot reach them!

They are deeper than the grave; you cannot understand them!

9 His limits are longer than the earth

and wider than the sea.

10 “If God comes along and puts you in prison

or calls you into court, no one can stop him.

11 God knows who is evil,

and when he sees evil, he takes note of it.

12 A fool cannot become wise

any more than a wild donkey can be born tame.

5 But oh that God would speak,

And open his lips against thee,

6 And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom!

For he is manifold in understanding.

Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

7 Canst thou by searching find out God?

Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

8 It is high as heaven; what canst thou do?

Deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?

9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth,

And broader than the sea.

10 If he pass through, and shut up,

And call unto judgment, then who can hinder him?

11 For he knoweth false men:

He seeth iniquity also, even though he consider it not.

12 But vain man is void of understanding,

Yea, man is born as a wild ass’s colt.

5 But oh that †God would speak, and open his lips against thee; 6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, how that they are the double of what is realised; and know that †God passeth by much of thine iniquity!

7 Canst thou by searching find out †God? canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection? 8 It is as the heights of heaven; what wilt thou do? deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know? 9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. 10 If he pass by, and shut up, and call to judgment, who can hinder him? 11 For he knoweth vain men, and seeth wickedness when man doth not consider it; 12 Yet a senseless man will make bold, though man be born like the foal of a wild ass.

5 I only wish God would speak 

and open his mouth ⸤to talk⸥ to you. 

6 He would tell you the secrets of wisdom, 

because ⸤true⸥ wisdom is twice ⸤as great as your wisdom⸥, 

and you would know that God forgets your sin. 

7 “Can you discover God’s hidden secrets, 

or are you able to find the Almighty’s limits? 

8 ⸤God’s wisdom is⸥ higher than heaven. 

What can you do? 

It is deeper than ⸤the depths⸥ of hell. 

What can you know? 

9 It is longer than the earth 

and wider than the sea. 

10 If God comes along and imprisons ⸤someone⸥ 

and then calls a court into session, who can stop him? 

11 He knows who the scoundrels are. 

And when he sees sin, doesn’t he pay attention to it? 

12 But an empty-headed person will gain understanding 

when a wild donkey is born tame. 

5 But if only God would speak

and declare His case against you,

6 He would show you the secrets of wisdom,

for true wisdom has two sides.

Know then that God has chosen to overlook some of your sin.

7 Can you fathom the depths of God

or discover the limits of the Almighty?

8 They are higher than the heavens—what can you do?

They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

9 Their measure is longer than the earth

and wider than the sea.

10 If He passes by and throws someone in prison

or convenes a court, who can stop Him?

11 Surely He knows which people are worthless.

If He sees iniquity, will He not take note of it?

12 But a stupid man will gain understanding

as soon as a wild donkey is born a man!

5 But O that God would speak,

and open his lips to you,

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

For wisdom is many-sided.

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

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

Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?

8 It is higher than heaven—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 passes through, and imprisons,

and assembles for judgment, who can hinder him?

11 For he knows those who are worthless;

when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?

12 But a stupid person will get understanding,

when a wild ass is born human.

5 But, O that God might speak,

and that he would open his lips to you,

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

for insight has many sides.

And know that God on your behalf has forgotten some of your guilt.

7 “Can you find out the essence of God,

or can you find out the ultimate limits of Shaddai?

8 It is higher than the heaven; what can you do?

It is deeper than Sheol; what can you know?

9 Its measure is longer than the earth

and broader than the sea.

10 “If he passes through and imprisons someone

and summons the assembly, then who can hinder him?

11 For he knows those who are worthless;

when he sees iniquity, he will not consider it.

12 But an empty-headed person will get understanding

when a wild donkey’s colt is born as a human being.

5 I wish God would speak.

I wish he’d answer you.

6 I wish he’d show you the secrets of wisdom.

After all, true wisdom has two sides.

Here’s what I want you to know.

God has forgotten some of your sins.

7 “Do you know how deep the mysteries of God are?

Can you discover the limits of the Mighty One’s knowledge?

8 They are higher than the heavens.

What can you do?

They are deeper than the deepest grave.

What can you know?

9 They are longer than the earth.

They are wider than the ocean.

10 “Suppose God comes along and puts you in prison.

Suppose he takes you to court.

Then who can oppose him?

11 He certainly knows when people tell lies.

When he sees evil, he pays careful attention to it.

12 A wild donkey’s colt can’t be born a human being.

And a man who doesn’t have any sense can’t become wise.

5 “But would that God might speak,

And open His lips against you,

6 And show you the secrets of wisdom!

For sound wisdom has two sides.

Know then that God forgets a part of your iniquity.

7 “Can you discover the depths of God?

Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?

8 “They are high as the heavens, 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 passes by or shuts up,

Or calls an assembly, who can restrain Him?

11 “For He knows false men,

And He sees iniquity without investigating.

12 “An idiot will become intelligent

When the foal of a wild donkey is born a man.