Study Desk

Then Zophar the Naamathite ^[a]answered,

"Shall a multitude of words go unanswered, And a ^(a)talkative man be acquitted?

"Shall your boasts silence men? And shall you ^(b)scoff and none rebuke?

"For ^(c)you have said, ‘My teaching is pure, And ^(d)I am innocent in your eyes.'

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

And show you the secrets of wisdom! For sound wisdom ^[b](e)has two sides. Know then that God ^[c]forgets a part of ^(f)your iniquity.

"^(g)Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?

"They are ^(h)high as ^[d]the heavens, what can you do? Deeper than ^[e](i)Sheol, what can you know?

"Its measure is longer than the earth And broader than the sea.

"If He passes by or shuts up, Or calls an assembly, ^(j)who can restrain Him?

"For ^(k)He knows false men, And He ^(l)sees iniquity ^[f]without investigating.

"^[g](m)An idiot will become intelligent When the ^[h]foal of a ⁽ⁿ⁾wild donkey is born a man.

"^(o)If you would ^(p)direct your heart right And ^(q)spread out your hand to Him,

If iniquity is in your hand, ^(r)put it far away, And do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;

"Then, indeed, you could ^(s)lift up your face without moral defect, And you would be steadfast and ^(t)not fear.

"For you would ^(u)forget your trouble, As ^(v)waters that have passed by, you would remember it.

"Your ^[i]life would be ^[j](w)brighter than noonday; Darkness would be like the morning.

"Then you would trust, because there is hope; And you would look around and rest securely.

"You would ^(x)lie down and none would disturb you, And many would ^(y)entreat your ^[k]favor.

"But the ^(z)eyes of the wicked will fail, And ^[l]there will ^(aa)be no escape for them; And their ^(ab)hope is ^[m](ac)to breathe their last."