Zophar: Eloah lets you off part of your guilt
1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered: 2Is a flood of words to go unanswered? Is a man of lips to be proved right? 3Is your empty talk to shut men up? Will you mock, and no one shame you? 4You say, “My teaching is pure, and I am clean in your eyes.” 5But if only Eloah would speak and open his lips against you, 6and tell you the secrets of wisdom — for sound wisdom has two sides — then you would know that Eloah overlooks part of your guilt. 7Can you find out the depth of Eloah? Can you reach the limit of the Almighty? 8Higher than the heavens — what can you do? Deeper than Sheol — what can you know? 9Its measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. 10If he sweeps through, shuts a man up and calls the court to order, who can turn him back? 11For he himself knows worthless men; he sees iniquity, and does not stop to consider it. 12A hollow man will get sense when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man. 13As for you: if you set your heart straight and spread out your hands to him, 14if there is iniquity in your hand, put it far away, and do not let wrongdoing live in your tents, 15then you will lift your face without blemish; you will stand firm and not be afraid. 16You yourself will forget your trouble; you will remember it like water gone by. 17Life will rise brighter than noon; its darkness will be like morning. 18You will be confident, because there is hope; you will look around you and lie down secure. 19You will lie down with no one to frighten you, and many will court your favor. 20But the eyes of the wicked will fail; escape will be lost to them, and their hope is a dying breath.
