Then Sophar the Naamathite answered, and said:

Shall not he that speaketh much, hear also? or shall a man full of talk be justified?

Shall men hold their peace to thee only? and when thou hast mocked others, shall no man confute thee?

For thou hast said: My word is pure, and I am clean in thy sight.

And I wish that God would speak with thee, and would open his lips to thee,

That he might shew thee the secrets of wisdom, and that his law is manifold, and thou mightest understand that he exacteth much less of thee, than thy iniquity deserveth.

Peradventure thou wilt comprehend the steps of God, and wilt find out the Almighty perfectly?

He is higher than heaven, and what wilt thou do? he is deeper than hell, and how wilt thou know?

The measure of him is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

If he shall overturn all things, or shall press them together, who shall contradict him?

For he knoweth the vanity of men, and when he seeth iniquity, doth he not consider it?

A vain man is lifted up into pride, and thinketh himself born free like a wild ass’s colt.

But thou hast hardened thy heart, and hast spread thy hands to him.

If thou wilt put away from thee the iniquity that is in thy hand, and let not injustice remain in thy tabernacle:

Then mayst thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear.

Thou shalt also forget misery, and remember it only as waters that are passed away.

And brightness like that of the noonday, shall arise to thee at evening: and when thou shalt think thyself consumed, thou shalt rise as the day star.

And thou shalt have confidence, hope being set before thee, and being buried thou shalt sleep secure.

Thou shalt rest, and there shall be none to make thee afraid: and many shall entreat thy face.

But the eyes of the wicked shall decay, and the way to escape shall fail them, and their hope the abomination of the soul.

Then Job answered, and said:

Are you then men alone, and shall wisdom die with you?

I also have a heart as well as you: for who is ignorant of these things, which you know?

He that is mocked by his friends as I, shall call upon God and he will hear him: for the simplicity of the just man is laughed to scorn.

The lamp despised in the thoughts of the rich, is ready for the time appointed.

The tabernacles of robbers abound, and they provoke God boldly; whereas it is he that hath given all into their hands:

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee: and the birds of the air, and they shall tell thee.

Speak to the earth, and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of the sea shall tell.

Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord hath made all these things?

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all flesh of man.

Doth not the ear discern words, and the palate of him that eateth, the taste?

In the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days prudence.

With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

If he pull down, there is no man that can build up: if he shut up a man, there is none that can open.

If he withhold the waters, all things shall be dried up: and if he send them out, they shall overturn the earth.

With him is strength and wisdom: he knoweth both the deceivers, and him that is deceived.

He bringeth counsellors to a foolish end, and judges to insensibility.

He looseth the belt of kings, and girdeth their loins with a cord.

He leadeth away priests without glory, and overthroweth nobles.

He changeth the speech of the true speakers, and taketh away the doctrine of the aged.

He poureth contempt upon princes, and relieveth them that were oppressed.

He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth up to light the shadow of death.

He multiplieth nations, and destroyeth them, and restoreth them again after they were overthrown.

He changeth the heart of the princes of the people of the earth, and deceiveth them that they walk in vain where there is no way.

They shall grope as in the dark, and not in the light, and he shall make them stagger like men that are drunk.

Behold my eye hath seen all these things, and my ear hath heard them, and I have understood them all.

According to your knowledge I also know: neither am I inferior to you.

But yet I will speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

Having first shewn that you are forgers of lies, and maintainers of perverse opinions.

And I wish you would hold your peace, that you might be thought to be wise men.

Hear ye therefore my reproof, and attend to the judgment of my lips.

Hath God any need of your lie, that you should speak deceitfully for him?

Do you accept this person, and do you endeavour to judge for God?

Or shall it please him, from whom nothing can be concealed? or shall he be deceived as a man, with your deceitful dealings?

He shall reprove you, because in secret you accept his person.

As soon as he shall move himself, he shall trouble you: and his dread shall fall upon you.

Your remembrance shall be compared to ashes, and your necks shall be brought to clay.

Hold your peace a little while, that I may speak whatsoever my mind shall suggest to me.

Why do I tear my flesh with my teeth, and carry my soul in my hands?

Although he should kill me, I will trust in him: but yet I will reprove my ways in his sight.

And he shall be my saviour: for no hypocrite shall come before his presence.

Hear ye my speech, and receive with your ears hidden truths.

If I shall be judged, I know that I shall be found just.

Who is he that will plead against me? let him come: why am I consumed holding my peace?

Two things only do not to me, and then from thy face I shall not be hid:

Withdraw thy hand far from me, and let not thy dread terrify me.

Call me, and I will answer thee: or else I will speak, and do thou answer me.

How many are my iniquities and sins? make me know my crimes and offenses.

Why hidest thou thy face, and thinkest me thy enemy?

Against a leaf, that is carried away with the wind, thou shewest thy power, and thou pursuest a dry straw.

For thou writest bitter things against me, and wilt consume me for the sins of my youth.

Thou hast put my feet in the stocks, and hast observed all my paths, and hast considered the steps of my feet:

Who am to be consumed as rottenness, and as a garment that is motheaten.

Man born of a woman, living for a short time, is filled with many miseries.

Who cometh forth like a flower, and is destroyed, and fleeth as a shadow, and never continueth in the same state.

And dost thou think it meet to open thy eyes upon such an one, and to bring him into judgment with thee?

Who can make him clean that is conceived of unclean seed? is it not thou who only art?

The days of man are short, and the number of his months is with thee: thou hast appointed his bounds which cannot be passed.

Depart a little from him, that he may rest until his wished for day come, as that of the hireling.

A tree hath hope: if it be cut, it groweth green again, and the boughs thereof sprout.

If its roots be old in the earth, and its stock be dead in the dust:

At the scent of water, it shall spring, and bring forth leaves, as when it was first planted.

But man when he shall be dead, and stripped and consumed, I pray you where is he?

As if the waters should depart out of the sea, and an emptied river should be dried up;

So man when he is fallen asleep shall not rise again; till the heavens be broken, he shall not awake, nor rise up out of his sleep.

Who will grant me this, that thou mayst protect me in hell, and hide me till thy wrath pass, and appoint me a time when thou wilt remember me?

Shall man that is dead, thinkest thou, live again? all the days in which I am now in warfare, I expect until my change come.

Thou shalt call me, and I will answer thee: to the work of thy hands thou shalt reach out thy right hand.

Thou indeed hast numbered my steps, but spare my sins.

Thou hast sealed up my offences as it were in a bag, but hast cured my iniquity.

A mountain falling cometh to nought, and a rock is removed out of its place.

Waters wear away the stones, and with inundation the ground by little and little is washed away: so in like manner thou shalt destroy man.

Thou hast strengthened him for a little while, that he may pass away for ever: thou shalt change his face, and shalt send him away.

Whether his children come to honour or dishonour, he shall not understand.

But yet his flesh, while he shall live, shall have pain, and his soul shall mourn over him.

And Eliphaz the Themanite, answered, and said:

Will a wise man answer as if he were speaking in the wind, and fill his stomach with burning heat?

Thou reprovest him by words, who is not equal to thee, and thou speakest that which is not good for thee.

As much as is in thee, thou hast made void fear, and hast taken away prayers from before God.

For thy iniquity hath taught thy mouth, and thou imitatest the tongue of blasphemers.

Thy own mouth shall condemn thee, and not I: and thy own lips shall answer thee.

Art thou the first man that was born, or wast thou made before the hills?

Hast thou heard God’s counsel, and shall his wisdom be inferior to thee?

What knowest thou that we are ignorant of? what dost thou understand that we know not?

There are with us also aged and ancient men, much elder than thy fathers.

Is it a great matter that God should comfort thee? but thy wicked words hinder this.

Why doth thy heart elevate thee, and why dost thou stare with thy eyes, as if they were thinking great things?

Why doth thy spirit swell against God, to utter such words out of thy mouth?

What is man that he should be without spot, and he that is born of a woman that he should appear just?

Behold among his saints none is unchangeable, and the heavens are not pure in his sight.

How much more is man abominable, and unprofitable, who drinketh iniquity like water?

I will shew thee, hear me: and I will tell thee what I have seen.

Wise men confess and hide not their fathers.

To whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger hath passed among them.

The wicked man is proud all his days, and the number of the years of his tyranny is uncertain.

The sound of dread is always in his ears: and when there is peace, he always suspecteth treason.

He believeth not that he may return from darkness to light, looking round about for the sword on every side.

When he moveth himself to seek bread, he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

Tribulation shall terrify him, and distress shall surround him, as a king that is prepared for the battle.

For he hath stretched out his hand against God, and hath strengthened himself against the Almighty.

He hath run against him with his neck raised up, and is armed with a fat neck.

Fatness hath covered his face, and the fat hangeth down on his sides.

He hath dwelt in desolate cities, and in desert houses that are reduced into heaps.

He shall not be enriched, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he push his root in the earth.

He shall not depart out of darkness: the flame shall dry up his branches, and he shall be taken away by the breath of his own mouth.

He shall not believe, being vainly deceived by error, that he may be redeemed with any price.

Before his days be full he shall perish: and his hands shall wither away.

He shall be blasted as a vine when its grapes are in the first flower, and as an olive tree that casteth its flower.

For the congregation of the hypocrite is barren, and fire shall devour their tabernacles, who love to take bribes.

He hath conceived sorrow, and hath brought forth iniquity, and his womb prepareth deceits.