The discourse of Zophar
1Zophar the Naamithite spoke:
2Must these words go unanswered?
Must you be right for talking so much?
3Will your prattle keep us silent?
Will no one answer your mocking?
4You say to God that your way is right,
that you are clean in his sight.
5How I wish that God would speak
and open his lips against you,
6to show you the secrets of wisdom
which put intelligence to shame,
then you would know
that God is recalling your sins.
7Can you fathom the mysteries of God,
probe the extent of his perfection?
8It is higher than heaven –
what can you do?
Deeper than the world of death –
what can you know?
9Its measure is wider than the earth,
broader than the sea.
10Who can stop him when he passes,
when he imprisons and calls to judgment?
11He sees evil; he recognizes deceit.
Will he not then take note of it?
12So stupid people learn to be wise
as wild donkeys become tame.
13If you set your heart aright
and stretch out your hands to him,
14if you wash your hand of sin
and allow no evil in your tent,
15you will then raise your face in honor;
having no fear, you will feel secure.
16You will forget your suffering
and recall it only as waters gone by.
17Your life will be brighter than noonday
and its darkness like the morning.
18You will be comforted, for there is hope;
you will be protected when you sleep.
19You will lie down with no one to fear;
many will come to court your favor.
20But the eyes of the wicked will fail;
they will lose all way of escape,
their one hope – that death will come.
