Zophar's First Response To Job

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite spoke up and said:

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite (a)answered,

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

1 Zophar from Naamath had this to say:

2 "Should not this abundance of words be answered, or should this talkative man be vindicated?

2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

2 “Shall a multitude of words go unanswered,And a (A)talkative man be acquitted?

2 Should this stream of words(A) go unansweredand such a talker(a) be acquitted?

2 "Shouldn't a multitude of words be answered, or a person who talks too much be vindicated?

3 Will your idle talk reduce people to silence, and will no one rebuke you when you mock?

3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

3 “Shall your boasts silence men?And shall you (B)scoff and none rebuke?

3 Should your babbling put others to silence,so that you can keep on ridiculingwith no one to humiliate you?

3 Will your irrational babble silence people, and when you mock them, will you escape without being shamed?

4 For you have said, 'My teaching is flawless, and I am pure in your sight.'

4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

4 “For (C)you have said, ‘My teaching is pure,And (D)I am innocent in your eyes.’

4 You have said, “My teaching(B) is sound,and I am pure in Your sight.”

4 You've said, "My teaching is flawless; I'm clean in God's sight.'

5 But if only God would speak, if only he would open his lips against you,

5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

5 “But would that God might speak,And open His lips against you,

5 But if only God would speakand declare His case(b) against you,

5 "But what if God were to speak? What if he were to talk with you,

6 and reveal to you the secrets of wisdom -- for true wisdom has two sides -- so that you would know that God has forgiven some of your sins.

6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

6 And show you the secrets of wisdom!For sound wisdom (b)(E)has two sides.Know then that God (c)forgets a part of (F)your iniquity.

6 He would show you the secrets of wisdom,(C)for true wisdom has two sides.Know then that God has chosen to overlook some of your sin.(D)

6 and disclose his wise secrets? After all, there's so much more to understanding. So be aware that God will exact from you less than your sin deserves."

God Can Do As He Pleases

7 "Can you discover the essence of God? Can you find out the perfection of the Almighty?

7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

7 (G)Can you discover the depths of God?Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?

7 Can you fathom the depths of Godor discover the limits of the Almighty?(E)

7 "Can you search through God's complex things? Can you uncover the limits of the Almighty?

8 It is higher than the heavens -- what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol -- what can you know?

8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

8 “They are (H)high as (d)the heavens, what can you do?Deeper than (e)(I)Sheol, what can you know?

8 They are higher than the heavens—what can you do?They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?(F)

8 These things are higher than the heavens, so what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol, so what can you know?

9 Its measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

9 “Its measure is longer than the earthAnd broader than the sea.

9 Their measure is longer than the earthand wider than the sea.

9 They are longer than the earth's circumference, and broader than the ocean.

10 If he comes by and confines you and convenes a court, then who can prevent him?

10 If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

10 “If He passes by or shuts up,Or calls an assembly, (J)who can restrain Him?

10 If He passes by and throws someone in prisonor convenes a court, who can stop Him?(G)

10 "If he bypasses, or imprisons, or convenes a court, who can stop him?

11 For he knows deceitful men; when he sees evil, will he not consider it?

11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

11 “For (K)He knows false men,And He (L)sees iniquity (f)without investigating.

11 Surely He knows which people are worthless.If He sees iniquity, will He not take note of it?(H)

11 For he knows mankind's deceitfulness; when he sees iniquity, won't he himself consider it?

12 But an empty man will become wise, when a wild donkey's colt is born a human being.

12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.

12 (g)(M)An idiot will become intelligentWhen the (h)foal of a (N)wild donkey is born a man.

12 But a stupid man will gain understandingas soon as a wild donkey is born a man!

12 An empty-headed person will gain understanding when a wild donkey is born a human being!"

Confess Your Sin And Be Forgiven

13 "As for you, if you prove faithful, and if you stretch out your hands toward him,

13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

13 (O)If you would (P)direct your heart rightAnd (Q)spread out your hand to Him,

13 As for you, if you redirect your heartand lift up your hands to Him in prayer—

13 "Now for you, if you will prepare your heart, spread out your hands to him.

14 if iniquity is in your hand -- put it far away, and do not let evil reside in your tents.

14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

14 If iniquity is in your hand, (R)put it far away,And do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;

14 if there is iniquity in your hand, remove it,and don’t allow injustice to dwell in your tents—

14 If you have any iniquity, throw it far away. Don't let evil live in your residence.

15 For then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be securely established and will not fear.

15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

15 “Then, indeed, you could (S)lift up your face without moral defect,And you would be steadfast and (T)not fear.

15 then you will hold your head high, free from fault.You will be firmly established and unafraid.(I)

15 Then your confidence will be flawless, and your security will keep you from terror.

16 For you will forget your trouble; you will remember it like water that has flowed away.

16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

16 “For you would (U)forget your trouble,As (V)waters that have passed by, you would remember it.

16 For you will forget your suffering,recalling it only as waters that have flowed by.

16 You'll forget your suffering; you'll remember it like water that has evaporated.

17 And life will be brighter than the noonday; though there be darkness, it will be like the morning.

17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

17 “Your (i)life would be (j)(W)brighter than noonday;Darkness would be like the morning.

17 Your life will be brighter than noonday;its darkness(c) will be like the morning.(J)

17 Your life will be brighter than noonday. Even its darkness will be like dawn.

18 And you will be secure, because there is hope; you will be protected and will take your rest in safety.

18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

18 “Then you would trust, because there is hope;And you would look around and rest securely.

18 You will be confident, because there is hope.(K)You will look carefully about and lie down in safety.(L)

18 You'll be secure, because there is hope; you'll see that you're at rest and safe.

19 You will lie down with no one to make you afraid, and many will seek your favor.

19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

19 “You would (X)lie down and none would disturb you,And many would (Y)entreat your (k)favor.

19 You will lie down without fear,and many will seek your favor.(M)

19 When you sleep, there'll be nothing to fear; and many will court your favor.

20 But the eyes of the wicked fail, and escape eludes them; their one hope is to breathe their last."

20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.

20 “But the (Z)eyes of the wicked will fail,And (l)there will (AA)be no escape for them;And their (AB)hope is (m)(AC)to breathe their last.”

20 But the sight of the wicked(N) will fail.Their way of escape will be cut off,and their only hope is their last breath.(O)

20 But what the wicked look for will fail; their way of escape will be taken away from them; their only hope is to take their final breath."

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