Zophar Rebukes Job
(Ecclesiastes 1:1-11)
1Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
3Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
4For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.
5But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
6And 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.
7Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
8It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
9The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
10If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?
11For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?
12For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.
13If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
14If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
15For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
16Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:
17And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
18And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
19Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
20But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Zophar Rebukes Job
1 Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,
2 “Shouldn’t the multitude of words be answered? Should a man full of talk be justified?
3 Should your boastings make men hold their peace? When you mock, shall no man make you ashamed?
4 For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure. I am clean in your eyes.’
5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against you,
6 that he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For true wisdom has two sides. Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.
7 “Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are high as heaven. What can you do? They are 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 confines, or convenes a court, then who can oppose him?
11 For he knows false men. He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn’t consider it.
12 An empty-headed man becomes wise when a man is born as a wild donkey’s colt.
13 “If you set your heart aright, stretch out your hands toward him.
14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away. Don’t let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.
15 Surely then you shall lift up your face without spot; Yes, you shall be steadfast, and shall not fear:
16 for you shall forget your misery. You shall remember it as waters that are passed away.
17 Life shall be clearer than the noonday. Though there is darkness, it shall be as the morning.
18 You shall be secure, because there is hope. Yes, you shall search, and shall take your rest in safety.
19 Also you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. Yes, many shall court your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail. They shall have no way to flee. Their hope shall be the giving up of the spirit.”
Zophar Rebukes Job
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
2 “Should this stream of words go unanswered
and such a speaker be vindicated?
3 Should your babbling put others to silence?
Will you scoff without rebuke?
4 You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound,
and I am pure in Your sight.’
5 But if only God would speak
and open His lips against you,
6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,
for true wisdom has two sides.
Know then that God exacts from you
less than your iniquity deserves.
7 Can you fathom the deep things 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 comes along to imprison you,
or convenes a court, who can stop Him?
11 Surely He knows the deceit of men.
If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?
12 But a witless man can no more become wise
than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man! a
13 As for you, if you direct your heart
and lift up your hands to Him,
14 if you put away the iniquity in your hand,
and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents,
15 then indeed you will lift up your face without shame;
you will stand firm and unafraid.
16 For you will forget your misery,
recalling it only as waters gone by.
17 Your life will be brighter than noonday;
its darkness will be like the morning.
18 You will be secure, because there is hope,
and you will look around and lie down in safety.
19 You will lie down without fear,
and many will court your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
and escape will elude them;
they will hope for their last breath.”
Footnotes:
12 a Or can be born tame
Zophar Rebukes Job
(Ecclesiastes 1:1-11)
1And Zophar the Naamathite answereth and saith: --
2Is a multitude of words not answered? And is a man of lips justified?
3Thy devices make men keep silent, Thou scornest, and none is causing blushing!
4And thou sayest, 'Pure is my discourse, And clean I have been in Thine eyes.'
5And yet, O that God had spoken! And doth open His lips with thee.
6And declare to thee secrets of wisdom, For counsel hath foldings. And know thou that God forgetteth for thee, Some of thine iniquity.
7By searching dost thou find out God? Unto perfection find out the Mighty One?
8Heights of the heavens! -- what dost thou? Deeper than Sheol! -- what knowest thou?
9Longer than earth is its measure, And broader than the sea.
10If He pass on, and shut up, and assemble, Who then dost reverse it?
11For he hath known men of vanity, And He seeth iniquity, And one doth not consider it!
12And empty man is bold, And the colt of a wild ass man is born.
13If thou -- thou hast prepared thy heart, And hast spread out unto Him thy hands,
14If iniquity is in thy hand, put it far off, And let not perverseness dwell in thy tents.
15For then thou liftest up thy face from blemish, And thou hast been firm, and fearest not.
16For thou dost forget misery, As waters passed away thou rememberest.
17And above the noon doth age rise, Thou fliest -- as the morning thou art.
18And thou hast trusted because their is hope, And searched -- in confidence thou liest down,
19And thou hast rested, And none is causing trembling, And many have entreated thy face;
20And the eyes of the wicked are consumed, And refuge hath perished from them, And their hope is a breathing out of soul!
