1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
2 "Is a flood of words to go unanswered, and is a man of lips to be found in the right?
3 Shall your empty boasts silence men, and shall you scoff with no one to shame you?
4 For you say, 'My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in your sight.'
5 But if only God would speak, and open his lips against you,
6 and make known to you the secrets of wisdom, for sound wisdom has two sides! Know, then, that God exacts of you less than your iniquity.
7 Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you get to the boundary of the Almighty?
8 It is as high as heaven; what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol; what can you know?
9 Its measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
10 If he sweeps by and shuts someone up, and summons an assembly, who can stop him?
11 For he knows men who are false; he sees iniquity, and does he not take note?
12 But a hollow man will get sense when a wild donkey's colt is born a man.
13 If you yourself prepare your heart and stretch out your palms to him,
14 if there is iniquity in your hand, remove it far off, and let no wrong live in your tents.
15 Then indeed you will raise your face free of stain; you will stand firm and have no fear.
16 For you will forget your trouble; you will recall it as water that has flowed away.
17 Your life will rise brighter than noonday; though it is dark, it will be like the morning.
18 You will be confident, for there is hope; you will search around and rest in safety.
19 You will lie down with no one to frighten you, and many will court your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will waste away; every refuge will be gone from them, and their hope is the breathing out of life."