[1] Then Zophar from Naama replied to Job, [2] "Shouldn't someone answer this flood of words? Should a good public speaker be acquitted? [3] Should your empty talk silence others so that you can make fun of us without any shame? [4] You say, 'My teaching is morally correct,' and, 'As you can see, I'm innocent.' [5] I only wish God would speak and open his mouth to talk to you. [6] He would tell you the secrets of wisdom, because true wisdom is twice as great as your wisdom, and you would know that God forgets your sin. [7] "Can you discover God's hidden secrets, or are you able to find the Almighty's limits? [8] God's wisdom is higher than heaven. What can you do? It is deeper than the depths of hell. What can you know? [9] It is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. [10] If God comes along and imprisons someone and then calls a court into session, who can stop him? [11] He knows who the scoundrels are. And when he sees sin, doesn't he pay attention to it? [12] But an empty-headed person will gain understanding when a wild donkey is born tame. [13] "If you want to set your heart right, then pray to him. [14] If you're holding on to sin, put it far away, and don't let injustice live in your tent. [15] Then you will be able to show your face without being ashamed, and you will be secure and unafraid. [16] Then you will forget your misery and remember it like water that has flowed downstream. [17] Then your life will be brighter than the noonday sun. The darkness in your life will become like morning. [18] You will feel confident because there's hope, and you will look around and rest in safety. [19] You will lie down with no one to frighten you, and many people will try to gain your favor. [20] But the wicked will lose their eyesight. Their escape route will be closed. Their only hope is to take their last breath."
