Zophar's First Speech
So Much Foolish Talk
1 Zophar from Naamah said:
2 So much foolish talk
cannot go unanswered.
3 Your words have silenced others
and made them ashamed;
now it is only right for you
to be put to shame.
4 You claim to be innocent
and argue that your beliefs
are acceptable to God.
5 But I wish God would speak
6 and let you know that wisdom
has many different sides.
You would then discover
that God has punished you
less than you deserve.
7 Can you understand the mysteries
surrounding God All-Powerful?
8 They are higher than the heavens
and deeper than the grave.
So what can you do
when you know so little,
9 and these mysteries outreach
the earth and the ocean?
10 If God puts you in prison
or drags you to court,
what can you do?
11 God has the wisdom to know
when someone is worthless
and sinful,
12 but it's easier to tame
a wild donkey
than to make a fool wise.
Surrender Your Heart to God
13 Surrender your heart to God,
turn to him in prayer,
14 and give up your sins—
even those you do in secret.
15 Then you won't be ashamed;
you will be confident
and fearless.
16 Your troubles will go away
like water beneath a bridge,
17 and your darkest night
will be brighter than noon.
18 You will rest safe and secure,
filled with hope
and emptied of worry.
19 You will sleep without fear
and be greatly respected.
20 But those who are evil
will go blind and lose their way.
Their only escape is death!
1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and sayde, 2 Should not the multitude of wordes be answered? or should a great talker be iustified? 3 Should men holde their peace at thy lyes? and when thou mockest others, shall none make thee ashamed? 4 For thou hast sayde, My doctrine is pure, and I am cleane in thine eyes. 5 But, oh that God would speake and open his lippes against thee! 6 That he might shewe thee the secretes of wisedome, howe thou hast deserued double, according to right: know therefore that God hath forgotten thee for thine iniquitie. 7 Canst thou by searching finde out God? canst thou finde out ye Almighty to his perfection? 8 The heauens are hie, what canst thou doe? it is deeper then the hell, how canst thou know it? 9 The measure thereof is longer then the earth, and it is broader then the sea. 10 If hee cut off and shut vp, or gather together, who can turne him backe? 11 For hee knoweth vaine men, and seeth iniquitie, and him that vnderstandeth nothing. 12 Yet vaine man would be wise, though man new borne is like a wilde asse colte. 13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him: 14 If iniquitie be in thine hand, put it farre away, and let no wickednesse dwell in thy Tabernacle. 15 The truely shalt thou lift vp thy face without spot, and shalt be stable, and shalt not feare. 16 But thou shalt forget thy miserie, and remember it as waters that are past. 17 Thine age also shall appeare more cleare then the noone day: thou shalt shine and bee as the morning. 18 And thou shalt bee bolde, because there is hope: and thou shalt digge pittes, and shalt lye downe safely. 19 For when thou takest thy rest, none shall make thee afraide: yea, many shall make sute vnto thee. 20 But the eyes of the wicked shall faile, and their refuge shall perish, and their hope shalbe sorow of minde.