1Zophar sharply reproveth Job for justifying himself: 7he sheweth that God's counsels are unsearchable; 13and that repentance is the only sure way for him to recover lost happiness.
1THEN answered aZophar the Naamathite, and said,
a ch. 2.11.
2Should not the bmultitude of words be answered? and should 1a man full of talk be justified?
1Heb. a man of lips.
b Ac. 17.18. Ja. 1.19. Pr. 10.19. Ec. 5.7.
3Should thy 2lies make men hold their peace? and when thou cmockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
2Or, devices.
c ch. 6.14,15,25,26; 13.9; 17.2.
4For thou hast said, dMy doctrine is pure, and I eam clean in thine eyes.
d ch. 6.10,30; 42.7,8. e ch. 10.7; 9.22; 34.5,6; 35.2.
5But foh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
f ch. 9.35; 38-41.
6And that he would shew thee the gsecrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God hexacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
g Da. 2.28. Ps. 25.14. Ep. 3.10. Mat. 13.11. Ro. 11.33,34. h Ezr. 9.13. La. 3.22,39. ch. 33.27. Ps. 103.10.
7iCanst thou by searching jfind out God? canst thou find out the Almighty kunto perfection?
i Ps. 139.6-10. Ec. 8.17. j Ec. 3.11. Is. 40.28. Ro. 11.33. ch. 26.14; 36.26. 1Co. 2.9. Ep. 3.18,19. k ch. 26.10; 28.3.
8It is l3as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
3Heb. the heights of heaven.
l Ps. 92.5; 147.5. Ro. 11.33. Ep. 3.18,19.
9The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
10mIf he 4cut off, and nshut up, or gather together, then 5who can hinder him?
4Or, make a change.
5Heb. who can turn him away? ch. 9.4,12.
m ch. 12.14. Re. 3.7. Ps. 41.8; 76.7. De. 32.30,39. Ex. 18.11. n Le. 13.4.
11For he oknoweth pvain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it ?
o Je. 17.10. He. 4.13. Re. 2.23. Ps. 10.14. Jn. 2.24,25. p Ps. 26.4.
12For 6vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.
6Heb. empty, Ps. 62.9; 73.22; 92.6; 94.8. ch. 39.5. Je. 2.23,24. Ec. 3.18. Ro. 2.21.
13If thou qprepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
q ch. 5.8; 22.21. 2Ch. 12.14; 19.3. Ps. 143.6. 1Sa. 7.3.
14If iniquity be rin thine hand, sput it far away, and let not wickedness tdwell in thy *tabernacles.
*tabernacles-tents, dwellings.
r Is. 1.15. Ps. 26.10; 66.18. s Ja. 4.8. Ps. 24.4; 26.8. 1Ti. 2.8. t Je. 4.14; 13.27. Ps. 101.3.
15For then shalt thou ulift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
u ch. 22.26; 10.15. 1Jn. 3.21. Ge. 4.5,6. 2Co. 1.12.
16Because thou shalt vforget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:
v Ge. 41.51. Is. 54.4; 65.16. Jn. 16.21. Pr. 31.6,7.
17wAnd thine age shall 7be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
7Heb. arise above the noon-day.
w Ps. 17.14; 37.6; 39.5; 112.4. Mi. 7.9. Phi. 2.15. Is. 58.8,10. Pr. 4.18. Ca. 6.10.
18And xthou shalt be *secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee , and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
*secure-free from anxiety.
x Ps. 3.5; 4.8; 127.2. Le. 26.5. Pr. 3.24. Eze. 34.25.
19Also ythou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, zmany shall 8make suit unto thee.
8Heb. entreat thy face.
y Is. 17.2. Zep. 3.13. z Pr. 19.6. Ps. 45.12. Ge. 26.26.
20But athe eyes of the wicked bshall fail, and 9they shall not escape, and ctheir hope shall be as 10the giving up of the ghost.
9Heb. flight shall perish from them, Am. 2.14; 9.1.
10Or, a puff of breath.
a ch. 17.5. b ch. 31.16. Ps. 69.3,23. Je. 14.6. La. 4.17. De. 28.65. c ch. 8.14; 18.14. Je. 2.25. Eze. 37.11. Pr. 11.7.