1 respondens autem Sophar Naamathites dixit
2 numquid qui multa loquitur non et audiet
aut vir verbosus iustificabitur
3 tibi soli tacebunt homines
et cum ceteros inriseris a nullo confutaberis
4 dixisti enim purus est sermo meus et mundus sum in conspectu tuo
5 atque utinam Deus loqueretur tecum et aperiret labia sua tibi
6 ut ostenderet tibi secreta sapientiae et quod multiplex esset lex eius
et intellegeres quod multo minora exigaris a Deo
quam meretur iniquitas tua
7 forsitan vestigia Dei conprehendes
et usque ad perfectum Omnipotentem repperies
8 excelsior caelo est et quid facies
profundior inferno et unde cognosces
9 longior terrae mensura eius et latior mari
10 si subverterit omnia vel in unum coartaverit quis contradicet ei
11 ipse enim novit hominum vanitatem
et videns iniquitatem nonne considerat
12 vir vanus in superbiam erigitur
et tamquam pullum onagri se liberum natum putat
13 tu autem firmasti cor tuum et expandisti ad eum manus tuas
14 si iniquitatem quod est in manu tua abstuleris a te
et non manserit in tabernaculo tuo iniustitia
15 tum levare poteris faciem tuam absque macula
et eris stabilis et non timebis
16 miseriae quoque oblivisceris
et quasi aquarum quae praeterierint recordaberis
17 et quasi meridianus fulgor consurget tibi ad vesperam
et cum te consumptum putaveris orieris ut lucifer
18 et habebis fiduciam proposita tibi spe
et defossus securus dormies
19 requiesces et non erit qui te exterreat
et deprecabuntur faciem tuam plurimi
20 oculi autem impiorum deficient et effugium peribit ab eis et spes eorum abominatio animae
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.