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Zophar's First Speech
So Much Foolish Talk
11
1 Zophar from Naamah  c 11.1 Naamah: See the note at 2.11. said:
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11
  Chapter recording
List of all recordings of KJV
1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
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2 So much foolish talk
cannot go unanswered.
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2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? full...: Heb. of lips
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3 Your words have silenced others
and made them ashamed;
now it is only right for you
to be put to shame.
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3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? lies: or, devices
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4 You claim to be innocent
and argue that your beliefs
are acceptable to God.
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4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.
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5 But I wish he would speak
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5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
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6 and let you know
that wisdom
has many different sides.
You would then discover
that God has punished you
less
than you deserve.
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6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
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7 Can you understand the mysteries
surrounding God All-Powerful?
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7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
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8 They are higher than the heavens
and deeper than the grave.
So what can you do
when you know so little,
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8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? as high...: Heb. the heights of heaven
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9 and these mysteries outreach
the earth and the ocean?
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9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
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10 If God puts you in prison
or drags you to court,
what can you do?
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10 If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him? cut...: or, make a change hinder...: Heb. turn him away?
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11 God has the wisdom to know
when someone is worthless
and sinful,
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11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?
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12 but it's easier to tame
a wild donkey
than to make a fool wise. d 11.12 it's ... wise: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
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12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt. vain: Heb. empty
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Surrender Your Heart to God
13 Surrender your heart to God,
turn to him in prayer,
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13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
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14 and give up your sins—
even those you do in secret.
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14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
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15 Then you won't be ashamed;
you will be confident
and fearless.
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15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
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16 Your troubles will go away
like water beneath a bridge,
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16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:
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17 and your darkest night
will be brighter than noon.
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17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. be cleared...: Heb. arise above
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18 You will rest safe and secure,
filled with hope
and emptied of worry.
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18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
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19 You will sleep without fear
and be greatly respected.
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19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee. make suit...: Heb. intreat thy face
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20 But those who are evil
will go blind and lose their way.
Their only escape is death!
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20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost. they shall...: Heb. flight shall perish from them the giving...: or, a puff of breath
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© 1999 American Bible Society |
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