Zophar Rebukes Job

(Ecclesiastes 1:1-11)

1And Zophar the Naamathite answereth and saith: —

2Is a multitude of words not answered? And is a man of lips justified?

3Thy devices make men keep silent, Thou scornest, and none is causing blushing!

4And thou sayest, ‘Pure [is] my discourse, And clean I have been in Thine eyes.’

5And yet, O that God had spoken! And doth open His lips with thee.

6And declare to thee secrets of wisdom, For counsel hath foldings. And know thou that God forgetteth for thee, [Some] of thine iniquity.

7By searching dost thou find out God? Unto perfection find out the Mighty One?

8Heights of the heavens! — what dost thou? Deeper than Sheol! — what knowest thou?

9Longer than earth [is] its measure, And broader than the sea.

10If He pass on, and shut up, and assemble, Who then dost reverse it?

11For he hath known men of vanity, And He seeth iniquity, And one doth not consider [it]!

12And empty man is bold, And the colt of a wild ass man is born.

13If thou — thou hast prepared thy heart, And hast spread out unto Him thy hands,

14If iniquity [is] in thy hand, put it far off, And let not perverseness dwell in thy tents.

15For then thou liftest up thy face from blemish, And thou hast been firm, and fearest not.

16For thou dost forget misery, As waters passed away thou rememberest.

17And above the noon doth age rise, Thou fliest — as the morning thou art.

18And thou hast trusted because their is hope, And searched — in confidence thou liest down,

19And thou hast rested, And none is causing trembling, And many have entreated thy face;

20And the eyes of the wicked are consumed, And refuge hath perished from them, And their hope [is] a breathing out of soul!