¹ Zophar of Naamath spoke next. He said:

² Is babbling to go without an answer? Is wordiness a proof of uprightness?

³ Do you think your talking strikes people dumb, will you jeer with no one to refute you?

⁴ These were your words, 'My conduct is pure, in your eyes I am free of blame!'

⁵ Will no one let God speak, open his lips and give you answer,

⁶ show you the secrets of wisdom which put all cleverness to shame? Then you would realise that God is calling you to account for your sin.

⁷ Can you claim to fathom the depth of God, can you reach the limit of Shaddai?

⁸ It is higher than the heavens: what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol: what can you know?

⁹ It would be longer to measure than the earth and broader than the sea.

¹⁰ If he intervenes to close or convoke the assembly, who is to prevent him?

¹¹ He knows how deceptive human beings are, and he sees their misdeeds too, and marks them well.

¹² Hence empty-headed people would do well to study sense and people who behave like wild donkeys to let themselves be tamed.

¹³ Come, reconsider your attitude, stretch out your hands towards him!

¹⁴ If you repudiate the sin which you have doubtless committed and do not allow wickedness to live on in your tents,

¹⁵ you will be able to raise an unsullied face, unwavering and free from fear,

¹⁶ for you will forget about your misery, thinking of it only as a flood that passed long ago.

¹⁷ Then begins an existence more radiant than noon, and the very darkness will be bright as morning.

¹⁸ Confident because there is hope; after your troubles, you will sleep secure.

¹⁹ When you lie down to rest, no one will trouble you, and many will seek your favour.

²⁰ But as for the wicked, their eyes are weary, there is no refuge for them; their only hope is to breathe their last.