1 Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,

1 וַ֭יַּעַן צֹפַ֥ר הַֽנַּעֲמָתִ֗י וַיֹּאמַֽר׃

2 "Shouldn't the multitude of words be answered? Should a man full of talk be justified?

2 הֲרֹ֣ב דְּ֭בָרִים לֹ֣א יֵעָנֶ֑ה וְאִם־אִ֖ישׁ שְׂפָתַ֣יִם יִצְדָּֽק׃

3 Should your boastings make men hold their peace? When you mock, shall no man make you ashamed?

3 בַּ֭דֶּיךָ מְתִ֣ים יַחֲרִ֑ישׁו וַ֝תִּלְעַ֗ג וְאֵ֣ין מַכְלִֽם׃

4 For you say, 'My doctrine is pure, I am clean in your eyes.'

4 וַ֭תֹּאמֶר זַ֣ךְ לִקְחִ֑י וּ֝בַ֗ר הָיִ֥יתִי בְעֵינֶֽיךָ׃

5 But oh that God would speak, And open his lips against you,

5 וְֽאוּלָ֗ם מִֽי־יִתֵּ֣ן אֱלֹ֣והַּ דַּבֵּ֑ר וְיִפְתַּ֖ח שְׂפָתָ֣יו עִמָּֽךְ׃

6 That he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For true wisdom has two sides. Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.

6 וְיַגֶּד־לְךָ֨³׀ תַּֽעֲלֻמֹ֣ות חָכְמָה֮ כִּֽי־כִפְלַ֪יִם לְֽת֫וּשִׁיָּ֥ה וְדַ֡ע כִּֽי־יַשֶּׁ֥ה לְךָ֥ אֱ֝לֹ֗והַ מֵעֲוֹנֶֽךָ׃

7 "Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

7 הַחֵ֣קֶר אֱלֹ֣והַ תִּמְצָ֑א אִ֤ם עַד־תַּכְלִ֖ית שַׁדַּ֣י תִּמְצָֽא׃

8 They are high as heaven. What can you do? Deeper than Sheol: what can you know?

8 גָּבְהֵ֣י מַיִם מַה־תִּפְעָ֑ל עֲמֻקָּ֥ה מִ֝שְּׁאֹ֗ול מַה־תֵּדָֽע׃

9 The measure of it is longer than the earth, And broader than the sea.

9 אֲרֻכָּ֣ה מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִדָּ֑הּ וּ֝רְחָבָ֗ה מִנִּי־יָֽם׃

10 If he passes by, or confines, Or convenes a court, then who can oppose him?

10 אִם־יַחֲלֹ֥ף וְיַסְגִּ֑יר וְ֝יַקְהִ֗יל וּמִ֣י יְשִׁיבֶֽנּוּ׃

11 For he knows false men. He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn't consider it.

11 כִּי־ה֭וּא יָדַ֣ע מְתֵי־שָׁ֑וְא וַיַּרְא־אָ֝֗וֶן וְלֹ֣א יִתְבֹּונָֽן׃

12 But vain man can become wise If a man can be born as a wild donkey's colt.

12 וְאִ֣ישׁ נָ֭בוּב יִלָּבֵ֑ב וְעַ֥יִר פֶּ֝֗רֶא אָדָ֥ם יִוָּלֵֽד׃

13 "If you set your heart aright, Stretch out your hands toward him.

13 אִם־אַ֭תָּ֗ה¹ הֲכִינֹ֣ותָ לִבֶּ֑ךָ וּפָרַשְׂתָּ֖ אֵלָ֣יו כַּפֶּֽךָ׃

14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, Don't let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.

14 אִם־אָ֣וֶן בְּ֭יָדְךָ הַרְחִיקֵ֑הוּ וְאַל־תַּשְׁכֵּ֖ן בְּאֹהָלֶ֣יךָ עַוְלָֽה׃

15 Surely then shall you lift up your face without spot; Yes, you shall be steadfast, and shall not fear:

15 כִּי־אָ֤ז׀ תִּשָּׂ֣א פָנֶ֣יךָ מִמּ֑וּם וְהָיִ֥יתָ מֻ֝צָ֗ק וְלֹ֣א תִירָֽא׃

16 For you shall forget your misery; You shall remember it as waters that are passed away,

16 כִּי־אַ֭תָּה עָמָ֣ל תִּשְׁכָּ֑ח כְּמַ֖יִם עָבְר֣וּ תִזְכֹּֽר׃

17 Life shall be clearer than the noonday; Though there is darkness, it shall be as the morning.

17 וּֽ֭מִצָּהֳרַיִם יָק֣וּם חָ֑לֶד תָּ֝עֻ֗פָה כַּבֹּ֥קֶר תִּהְיֶֽה׃

18 You shall be secure, because there is hope; Yes, you shall search, and shall take your rest in safety.

18 וּֽ֭בָטַחְתָּ כִּי־יֵ֣שׁ תִּקְוָ֑ה וְ֝חָפַרְתָּ֗ לָבֶ֥טַח תִּשְׁכָּֽב׃

19 Also you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; Yes, many shall court your favor.

19 וְֽ֭רָבַצְתָּ וְאֵ֣ין מַחֲרִ֑יד וְחִלּ֖וּ פָנֶ֣יךָ רַבִּֽים׃

20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, They shall have no way to flee; Their hope shall be the giving up of the spirit."

20 וְעֵינֵ֥י רְשָׁעִ֗ים תִּ֫כְלֶ֥ינָה³ וּ֭מָנֹוס אָבַ֣ד מִנְהֶ֑ם וְ֝תִקְוָתָ֗ם מַֽפַּח־נָֽפֶשׁ׃