¶ Then answered Zophar¹ the Naamathite, and said,

Should not the multitude² of words be answered? and should a man full of talk³ be justified?

Should thy lies⁴ make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest⁵, shall no man make thee⁶ ashamed?

For thou⁷ hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean⁸ in thine eyes.

⁹But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

And that he would shew thee¹⁰ the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth¹¹ of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

¶ Canst¹² thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

It is as high as heaven¹³; what canst thou do? deeper¹⁴ than hell; what canst thou know?

The measure thereof is longer¹⁵ than the earth, and broader than the sea.

¶ If he cut off¹⁶, and shut up¹⁷, or gather together, then who can hinder him¹⁸?

For he knoweth¹⁹ vain men: he seeth²⁰ wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

For vain²¹ man would²² be wise, though man be²³ born like a wild²⁴ ass's colt.

¶ If thou prepare²⁵ thine heart, and stretch²⁶ out thine hands toward him;

If iniquity²⁷ be in thine hand, put it far²⁸ away, and let not²⁹ wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

For then shalt thou lift up³⁰ thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be³¹ stedfast, and shalt not fear:

Because³² thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters³³ that pass away:

And thine age³⁴ shall be clearer than³⁵ the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

And thou shalt be secure, because³⁶ there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take³⁷ thy rest in safety.

Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many³⁸ shall make suit unto thee³⁹.

¶ But the eyes⁴⁰ of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape⁴¹, and their hope⁴² shall be as the giving up of the ghost⁴³.