New Living Translation

Darby Bible Translation

Zophar’s First Response to Job

Then Zophar the Naamathite replied to Job:

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Zophar Rebukes Job

And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

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“Shouldn’t someone answer this torrent of words?
Is a person proved innocent just by a lot of talking?

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

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Should I remain silent while you babble on?
When you mock God, shouldn’t someone make you ashamed?

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Should thy fictions make men hold their peace? and shouldest thou mock, and no one make [thee] ashamed?

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You claim, ‘My beliefs are pure,’
and ‘I am clean in the sight of God.’

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For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

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If only God would speak;
if only he would tell you what he thinks!

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

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If only he would tell you the secrets of wisdom,
for true wisdom is not a simple matter.
Listen! God is doubtless punishing you
far less than you deserve!

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And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, how that they are the double of what is realised; and know that +God passeth by [much] of thine iniquity!

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“Can you solve the mysteries of God?
Can you discover everything about the Almighty?

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Canst thou by searching find out +God? canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection?

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Such knowledge is higher than the heavens —
and who are you?
It is deeper than the underworlda —
what do you know?

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[It is as] the heights of heaven; what wilt thou do? deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?

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It is broader than the earth
and wider than the sea.

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

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If God comes and puts a person in prison
or calls the court to order, who can stop him?

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If he pass by, and shut up, and call to judgment, who can hinder him?

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For he knows those who are false,
and he takes note of all their sins.

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For he knoweth vain men, and seeth wickedness when [man] doth not consider it;

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An empty-headed person won’t become wise
any more than a wild donkey can bear a human child.b

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Yet a senseless man will make bold, though man be born [like] the foal of a wild ass.

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“If only you would prepare your heart
and lift up your hands to him in prayer!

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If thou prepare thy heart and stretch out thy hands toward him,

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Get rid of your sins,
and leave all iniquity behind you.

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If thou put far away the iniquity which is in thy hand, and let not wrong dwell in thy tents;

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Then your face will brighten with innocence.
You will be strong and free of fear.

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Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shalt be stedfast and shalt not fear:

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You will forget your misery;
it will be like water flowing away.

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For thou shalt forget misery; as waters that are passed away shalt thou remember it;

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Your life will be brighter than the noonday.
Even darkness will be as bright as morning.

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And life shall arise brighter than noonday; though thou be enshrouded in darkness, thou shalt be as the morning,

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Having hope will give you courage.
You will be protected and will rest in safety.

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And thou shalt have confidence, because there shall be hope; and having searched about [thee], thou shalt take rest in safety.

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You will lie down unafraid,
and many will look to you for help.

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Yea, thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; and many shall seek thy favour.

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But the wicked will be blinded.
They will have no escape.
Their only hope is death.”

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But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and [all] refuge shall vanish from them, and their hope [shall be] the breathing out of life.

Parallel

New Living Translation

Darby Bible Translation

Job 11

Job 11