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- Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
- "Are all these words to go unanswered? Is this talker to be vindicated?
- Will your idle talk reduce men to silence? Will no one rebuke you when you mock?
- You say to God, 'My beliefs are flawless and I am pure in your sight.'
- Oh, how I wish that God would speak, that he would open his lips against you
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- Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,
- "Shall a multitude of words go unanswered, And a talkative man be acquitted?
- "Shall your boasts silence men? And shall you scoff and none rebuke?
- "For you have said, 'My teaching is pure, And I am innocent in your eyes.'
- "But would that God might speak, And open His lips against you,
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- and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.
- "Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
- They are higher than the heavens--what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave --what can you know?
- Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
- "If he comes along and confines you in prison and convenes a court, who can oppose him?
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- And show you the secrets of wisdom! For sound wisdom has two sides Know then that God forgets a part of your iniquity.
- "Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?
- "They are high as the heavens, what can you do? Deeper than 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, who can restrain Him?
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- Surely he recognizes deceitful men; and when he sees evil, does he not take note?
- But a witless man can no more become wise than a wild donkey's colt can be born a man.
- "Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him,
- if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,
- then you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear.
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- "For He knows false men, And He sees iniquity without investigating.
- "An idiot will become intelligent When the foal of a wild donkey is born a man.
- "If you would direct your heart right And spread out your hand to Him,
- If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, And do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
- "Then, indeed, you could lift up your face without moral defect, And you would be steadfast and not fear.
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- You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by.
- Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning.
- You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.
- You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor.
- But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; their hope will become a dying gasp."
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- "For you would forget your trouble, As waters that have passed by, you would remember it.
- "Your life would be 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 lie down and none would disturb you, And many would entreat your favor.
- "But the eyes of the wicked will fail, And there will be no escape for them; And their hope is to breathe their last."
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