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Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,
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"Shall a multitude of words go unanswered, And a atalkative man be acquitted?
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"Shall your boasts silence men? And shall you ascoff and none rebuke?
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"For ayou have said, 'My teaching is pure, And bI am innocent in your eyes.'
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"But would that God might speak, And open His lips against you,
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And show you the secrets of wisdom! For sound wisdom ahas two sides. Know then that God forgets a part of byour iniquity.
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"aCan you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?
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"They are ahigh as the heavens, what can you do? Deeper than bSheol, what can you know?
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"Its measure is longer than the earth And broader than the sea.
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"If He passes by or shuts up, Or calls an assembly, awho can restrain Him?
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"For aHe knows false men, And He bsees iniquity without investigating.
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"aAn idiot will become intelligent When the foal of a bwild donkey is born a man.
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"aIf you would bdirect your heart right And cspread out your hand to Him,
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If iniquity is in your hand, aput it far away, And do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
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"Then, indeed, you could alift up your face without moral defect, And you would be steadfast and bnot fear.
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"For you would aforget your trouble, As bwaters that have passed by, you would remember it.
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"Your life would be abrighter than noonday; Darkness would be like the morning.
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"Then you would trust, because there is hope; And you would look around and rest securely.
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"You would alie down and none would disturb you, And many would bentreat your favor.
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"But the aeyes of the wicked will fail, And there will bbe no escape for them; And their chope is dto breathe their last."