¹Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said, ²“Should an abundance of words go unanswered, or ⌞a man full of talk⌟ be vindicated? ³Should your loose talk put people to silence? ⌞And when you mock, shall no one put you to shame⌟? ⁴For you say, ‘My teaching is pure, and I am clean in your sight.’ ⁵But, ⌞O that⌟ God might speak, and that he would open his lips to you, ⁶and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom, for ⌞insight has many sides⌟. And know that God ⌞on your behalf⌟ has forgotten ⌞some of⌟ your guilt. ⁷“Can you find out the essence of God, or can you find out ⌞the ultimate limits⌟ of Shaddai? ⁸⌞It is higher than the heaven⌟; what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol; what can you know? ⁹Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea. ¹⁰“If he passes through and imprisons someone ⌞and summons the assembly⌟, then who can hinder him? ¹¹For he knows ⌞those who are worthless⌟; ⌞when he sees⌟ iniquity, ⌞he will not consider it⌟. ¹²But ⌞an empty-headed person⌟ will get understanding when a wild donkey’s colt is born as a human being. ¹³“If you yourself direct your heart and stretch out your hands to him— ¹⁴if iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and you must not let wickedness reside in your tents— ¹⁵surely then you will lift up your face without blemish, and you will be firmly established and will not fear. ¹⁶For you yourself will forget your misery; you will remember it as water that has flowed past. ¹⁷“⌞And your life will be brighter than noon⌟; its darkness will be like the morning. ¹⁸And you will have confidence because there is hope; and you will be well protected—⌞you will sleep in safety⌟. ¹⁹And you will lie down, and ⌞no one will make you afraid⌟; ⌞and many will entreat your favor⌟. ²⁰But the eyes of the wicked will fail; and refuge will be lost to them, and their hope is ⌞to breathe their last breath⌟.”