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New King James Version

Zophar

Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

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Zophar Urges Job to Repent

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

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“Are all these words to go unanswered?
Is this talker to be vindicated?

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“Should not the multitude of words be answered?
And should [a]a man full of talk be vindicated?

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Will your idle talk reduce others to silence?
Will no one rebuke you when you mock?

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Should your empty talk make men [b]hold their peace?
And when you mock, should no one rebuke you?

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You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless
and I am pure in your sight.’

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For you have said,
‘My doctrine is pure,
And I am clean in your eyes.’

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Oh, how I wish that God would speak,
that he would open his lips against you

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But oh, that God would speak,
And open His lips against you,

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and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,
for true wisdom has two sides.
Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.

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That He would show you the secrets of wisdom!
For they would double your prudence.
Know therefore that God [c]exacts from you
Less than your iniquity deserves.

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“Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

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“Can you search out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?

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They are higher than the heavens above — what can you do?
They are deeper than the depths below — what can you know?

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They are higher than heaven — what can you do?
Deeper than [d]Sheol — what can you know?

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Their measure is longer than the earth
and wider than the sea.

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Their measure is longer than the earth
And broader than the sea.

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“If he comes along and confines you in prison
and convenes a court, who can oppose him?

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“If He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment,
Then who can [e]hinder Him?

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Surely he recognizes deceivers;
and when he sees evil, does he not take note?

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For He knows deceitful men;
He sees wickedness also.
Will He not then consider it?

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But the witless can no more become wise
than a wild donkey’s colt can be born human.a

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For an empty-headed man will be wise,
When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.

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“Yet if you devote your heart to him
and stretch out your hands to him,

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“If you would prepare your heart,
And stretch out your hands toward Him;

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if you put away the sin that is in your hand
and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,

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If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away,
And would not let wickedness dwell in your tents;

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then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;
you will stand firm and without fear.

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Then surely you could lift up your face without spot;
Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear;

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You will surely forget your trouble,
recalling it only as waters gone by.

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Because you would forget your misery,
And remember it as waters that have passed away,

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Life will be brighter than noonday,
and darkness will become like morning.

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And your life would be brighter than noonday.
Though you were dark, you would be like the morning.

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You will be secure, because there is hope;
you will look about you and take your rest in safety.

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And you would be secure, because there is hope;
Yes, you would dig around you, and take your rest in safety.

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

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You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid;
Yes, many would court your favor.

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But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
and escape will elude them;
their hope will become a dying gasp.”

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But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
And they shall not escape,
And their hope — [f]loss of life!”

Parallel

New International Version

New King James Version

Job 11

Job 11