1. Zophar from Naamah responded:
2. Should all these words go unansweredor a wordy man be justified?
3. Will your idle talk silence everyone;will you mock and not be put to shame?
4. You’ve said, "My teaching is pure,and I’m clean in God’s eyes."
5. But oh, that God would speak,open his lips against you
6. and tell you secrets of wisdom;for sound insight has two sides.Know that God lets some of your sin be forgotten.
7. Can you find the secret of Godor find the extent of the Almighty?
8. They are higher than the heavens—what can you do?Deeper than the underworld—what can you know?
9. Its measurement is longer than the earthand broader than the sea.
10. If God passes by, imprisons someone, and calls a trial,who can stop him?
11. He knows worthless people,sees sin, and certainly takes note.
12. A stupid person becomes intelligentwhen a wild ass of a person is born tame.
13. If you make your mind resoluteand spread your palms to him,
14. if you throw out the sin in your handsand don’t let injustice dwell in your tents,
15. then you will lift up your face without blemish;you will be secure and not fear.
16. You will forget trouble;you will remember it as water that flows past.
17. A life span will rise brighter than noon;darkness will be like morning.
18. You will be secure, for there is hope;you will look around and rest safely.
19. You will lie down without anyone to scare you;many will beg for your favor.
20. The eyes of the wicked will grow faint;flight has vanished from them;their hope is a dying gasp.