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1 THEN answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, | |
2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? | |
3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? | |
4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. | |
5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee; | |
6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. | |
7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? | |
8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? | |
9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. | |
10 If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him? | |
11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it? | |
12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt. | |
13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him; | |
14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. | |
15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear: | |
16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away: | |
17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. | |
18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety. | |
19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee. | |
20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost. | |