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Zophar Speaks to Job

11 Then Zophar from Naamah answered Job and said,

“This flood of words should be answered!
    Does all this talking make Job right?
Do you think we don’t have
    an answer for you?
Do you think no one will warn you
    when you laugh at God?
You say to God,
    ‘My arguments are right,
    and you can see I am pure.’
I wish God would answer you
    and tell you that you are wrong.
He could tell you the secret of wisdom.
    He would tell you that every story has two sides.
You can be sure of this:
    God is not punishing you as much as he should.

“Do you think you really understand God?
    Do you completely understand God All-Powerful?
That knowledge is higher than the heavens
    and deeper than the place of death.
So what can you do?
    How can you learn it all?
It is greater than the earth
    and bigger than the seas.

10 “If God decides to arrest you and take you to court,
    no one could stop him.
11 God knows who is worthless.
    When he sees evil, he remembers it.
12 A wild donkey cannot give birth to a man,
    and a stupid person will never become wise.
13 Prepare your heart to serve only God.
    Lift your arms and pray to him.
14 Put away the sin that you still hold on to.
    Don’t keep evil in your tent.
15 If you will do that, you could look to God without shame.
    You can stand strong and not be afraid.
16 Then you can forget your troubles,
    like water that has already passed by.
17 Your life will be brighter than the sunshine at noon.
    Life’s darkest hours will shine like the morning sun.
18 You will feel safe because there is hope.
    God will protect you and give you rest.
19 You will lie down without fear of anyone.
    Many people will come to you for help.
20 Evil people might look for help,
    but they will not escape their troubles.
    Their hope leads only to death.”

Job Answers His Friends

12 Then Job answered them:

“I’m sure you think you are
    the only wise people left.
You think that when you die,
    wisdom will be gone with you.
But my mind is as good as yours.
    You aren’t any smarter than I am.
You haven’t said anything
    that people don’t already know.

“My friends laugh at me now.
    They say, ‘He prayed to God and got his answer.’
I am a good, innocent man,
    but still they laugh at me.
Those who have no troubles make fun of those who do.
    They hit a man when he is down.
But robbers’ tents are not bothered.
    Those who make God angry live in peace,
    even though God has them in his power.

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you.
    Or ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.
Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you.
    Or let the fish in the sea tell you their wisdom.
Everyone knows
    that the Lord made these things.
10 Every animal that lives and everyone who breathes—
    they are all under God’s power.
11 But just as the tongue tastes food,
    the ears test the words they hear.
12 People say, ‘Wisdom is to be found in those who are old.
    Long life brings understanding.’
13 But wisdom and power belong to God.
    Good advice and understanding are his.
14 Anything God tears down cannot be rebuilt.
    Anyone he puts in prison cannot be set free.
15 If he holds back the rain, the earth will dry up.
    If he lets the rain loose, it will flood the land.
16 God is strong and always wins.
    He controls those who fool others and those who are fooled.
17 He strips advisors of their wisdom
    and makes leaders act like fools.
18 He strips kings of their authority
    and makes them slaves.
19 He strips priests of their power
    and removes those who feel so secure in their position.
20 He makes trusted advisors be silent.
    He takes away the wisdom of the older leaders.
21 He brings disgrace to important people.
    He takes power away from rulers.
22 He exposes even the darkest secrets.
    He sends light into places that are as dark as death.
23 God makes nations great,
    and then he destroys them.
He makes nations grow large,
    and then he scatters their people.
24 He makes their leaders foolish.
    He makes them wander around in the desert.
25 They are like someone feeling their way in the dark.
    They are like drunks who don’t know where they are going.

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