Zophar Rebukes Job
Study note
Zophar is blunt and impatient. He asks if Job's flood of words should go unchallenged. He accuses Job of mocking and claims that Job says he is pure in God's sight. Zophar wishes God would speak and reveal the secrets of wisdom to Job. His most cutting statement: God is actually letting Job off easy -- his punishment is less than his guilt deserves.
1 Then Zophar from Naamah spoke up and said, Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2 'Is no one going to answer all these words? Does talking a lot automatically make someone right?' Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
3 'Should your flood of words shut everyone else up? When you mock, should nobody set you straight?' Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
4 'You keep saying, "My beliefs are correct, and God can see that I am clean."' For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.
5 'Oh, how I wish God himself would open his mouth and respond to you!' But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
6 And that he would show you the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves. 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.
God's Wisdom Is Beyond Reach
Study note
Zophar asks a series of questions about God's infinite nature. Can you search out the limits of God? His wisdom is higher than heaven, deeper than the underworld, longer than the earth, and wider than the sea. If God decides to imprison someone, who can stop him? Zophar says that empty-headed people will gain understanding about as soon as a wild donkey's colt is born human.
7 'Do you think you can figure out everything about God? Can you discover the very edges of what the Almighty is?' Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
8 'What he knows reaches higher than the sky -- what can you possibly do about that? It goes deeper than the grave -- what can you possibly understand?' It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
9 'It stretches farther than the earth and wider than the ocean.' The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
10 'If God walks by and locks someone up, or calls everything into a courtroom, who is going to stand in his way?' If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?
11 'He knows exactly which people are fakes. When he spots evil, do you think he looks the other way?' For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?
12 'A foolish person will become wise the day a wild donkey gives birth to a human baby — that is, never.' For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.
If You Turn to God, All Will Be Well
Study note
Zophar tells Job that if he prepares his heart and reaches out to God, putting sin far away, then he will be able to hold his head up without shame. His suffering will fade like water flowing away. His life will be brighter than the noonday sun. But the wicked will find no escape, and their only hope will be death. While the promises sound beautiful, Zophar is still wrongly assuming Job needs to repent of some hidden sin.
13 'But if you set your heart on what is right and open your hands up toward God,' If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
14 'if you get rid of the sin you have been holding onto and refuse to let wickedness set up camp in your home,' If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
15 'then you will be able to lift your head high with nothing to be ashamed of. You will stand steady and solid with nothing to fear.' For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear:
16 'All your suffering will fade from your mind, like water that has already flowed downstream and is gone.' Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:
17 'Your life will shine brighter than the noonday sun. Your darkest moments will feel as bright as a fresh morning.' And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
18 'You will feel safe because hope is there with you. You will look around, rest easy, and have nothing to worry about.' And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
19 'You will lie down at night, and no one will bother you. Lots of people will come asking you for help.' Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
20 'But the eyes of wicked people will grow tired and weak. Every escape route will be blocked. The only thing they can hope for is to take their final breath.' 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.