Zophar Rebukes Job 1 UDB Then Zophar, the friend from the region of Naamah, said this to Job: BSB BSB: Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
2 UDB "Should no one answer all that you have said? Just because you talk a lot, that fact should not persuade us to declare that you are innocent. BSB BSB: “Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?
3 UDB Job, should your babbling really cause us to be silent? When you make fun of what we think, certainly there should be someone to rebuke you and cause you to be ashamed! BSB BSB: Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke?
4 UDB You say, 'What I say is true; God knows that I am innocent.' BSB BSB: You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.’
5 UDB But I wish that God would talk and say something to answer you! BSB BSB: But if only God would speak and open His lips against you,
6 UDB God knows everything about everything, so I wish that he would tell you the secrets that he knows because he is wise. It would be good if you realized that God is punishing you less than you deserve! BSB BSB: and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.
7 UDB Tell me, will you ever be able to find out the things about God that are very difficult to understand? Will you be able to find out everything that there is to know about Almighty God? BSB BSB: Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?
8 UDB What there is to know about God is greater than the distance from earth to heaven; so there is no way that you can understand it all. It is greater than the distance from here to the place of the dead; so it is impossible for you to know it all. BSB BSB: They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
9 UDB What there is to know about God is wider than the earth and wider than the ocean. BSB BSB: Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
10 UDB If God comes to you and puts you in prison and then brings you to a trial, who can stop him? BSB BSB: If He comes along to imprison you, or convenes a court, who can stop Him?
11 UDB He knows which people are worthless; and when he sees people doing wicked things, he certainly does not ignore them. BSB BSB: Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?
12 UDB Stupid people like you will start to become wise when wild donkeys start giving birth to people. BSB BSB: But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man!
13 UDB Job, repent and make your heart humble; reach out your hands toward God and plead with him. BSB BSB: As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him,
14 UDB If you have done evil things, stop doing them; and do not allow any people in your house to do wicked deeds. BSB BSB: if you put away the iniquity in your hand, and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents,
15 UDB If you do that, surely you will be able to carry your head high, because you will not be ashamed; you will be strong and not afraid of anything. BSB BSB: then indeed you will lift up your face without blemish; you will stand firm and unafraid.
16 UDB You will forget all your troubles; they will be like the water that has all flowed away and dried up. BSB BSB: For you will forget your misery, recalling it only as waters gone by.
17 UDB Your troubles will be ended, like the darkness ends at the dawn; it will be as though the sun were shining brightly on you, like it shines at noon. BSB BSB: Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.
18 UDB You will feel safe, because you will be confident that good things will happen to you; God will protect you and allow you to rest safely each night. BSB BSB: You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety.
19 UDB You will lie down to sleep, and no one will make you afraid. And many people will come and request you to be kind to them. BSB BSB: You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor.
20 UDB But wicked people will not be able to understand why bad things are happening to them; they will not have any way to escape from their troubles. The only thing that they will want to do is to die." BSB BSB: But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.