The First Speech of Zophar
1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied,
2“Don’t all your words require an answer?
I’m sure that what you are saying can’t be right.
3Your useless talk won’t keep us quiet.
Someone has to correct you when you make fun of truth.
4You say to God, ‘My beliefs are perfect.
I’m pure in your sight.’
5I wish God would speak.
I wish he’d answer you.
6I wish he’d show you the secrets of wisdom.
After all, true wisdom has two sides.
Here’s what I want you to know.
God has forgotten some of your sins.
7“Do you know how deep the mysteries of God are?
Can you discover the limits of the Mighty One’s knowledge?
8They are higher than the heavens above.
What can you do?
They are deeper than the deepest parts of the earth below.
What can you know?
9They are longer than the earth.
They are wider than the ocean.
10“Suppose God comes along and puts you in prison.
Suppose he takes you to court.
Then who can oppose him?
11He certainly knows when people tell lies.
When he sees evil, he pays careful attention to it.
12A wild donkey’s colt can’t be born a human being.
And it’s just as impossible that a person without sense can become wise.
13“So commit yourself to God completely.
Reach out your hands to him for help.
14Get rid of all the sin you have.
Don’t let anything that is evil stay in your tent.
15Then, free of those things, you can face others.
You can stand firm without being afraid.
16You can be sure you will forget your troubles.
They will be like water that has flowed on by.
17Life will be brighter than the sun at noon.
And darkness will become like morning.
18You will be secure, because there is hope.
You will look around you and find a safe place to rest.
19You will lie down, and no one will make you afraid.
Many people will want you to help them.
20But sinful people won’t find what they are looking for.
They won’t be able to escape.
All they can hope for is to die.”
Nagsalita si Zofar
1Pagkatapos, sumagot si Zofar na taga-Naama,
2“Hindi dapat palampasin itong mga sinabi mo. Hindi mapapatunayan ng isang tao na wala siyang kasalanan sa pamamagitan lang ng kanyang mga salita. 3Sa tingin mo baʼy mapapatahimik kami ng mga sinasabi mong walang saysay? Akala mo baʼy hindi ka namin sasawayin sa iyong panunuya? 4Sinasabi mong tama ang iyong paniniwala at matuwid ka sa paningin ng Dios. 5Magsalita sana ang Dios laban sa iyo, 6at sabihin sa iyo ang mga bagay na hindi mo pa alam. May mga bagay na alam mo na at may mga bagay ding hindi mo pa alam. Alam mo bang ang parusa ng Dios sa iyo ay kulang pa sa nararapat sa iyo?
7“Kaya mo bang unawain ang lahat-lahat tungkol sa Dios? 8-9Mas mataas pa ito kaysa sa langit at mas malalim pa kaysa sa lugar ng mga patay. Mas malawak pa ito kaysa sa mundo at mas maluwang pa kaysa sa dagat. Maihahambing mo kaya ang karunungan mo sa kanya?
10“Halimbawang dakpin ka ng Dios, iharap sa hukuman at ipakulong, may makakapigil ba sa kanya? 11Alam niya kung sino ang mga mandaraya at hindi lingid sa kanya ang kanilang kasamaan. 12Ang mangmang ay imposibleng maging marunong gaya ng asnong-gubat na imposibleng manganak ng tao.
13“Job, kung magsisisi ka at lalapit sa Dios, 14at tatalikuran ang iyong mga kasalanan, at kung pati ang sambahayan mo ay magsisisi sa kanilang kasalanan, 15tiyak na hindi ka na mapapahiya, tatatag ang iyong pamumuhay at wala ka nang katatakutan. 16Makakalimutan mo na rin ang iyong paghihirap na parang tubig na umagos lang at nawala. 17At ang buhay moʼy magiging mas maliwanag pa kaysa sa sikat ng araw sa katanghaliang tapat. At ang dati mong buhay na madilim ay magiging maliwanag na parang umaga. 18Mapapanatag ang buhay mo dahil may bago kang pag-asa. Iingatan ka ng Dios at makapagpapahinga ka ng walang kinatatakutan. 19Matutulog ka ng walang mananakot sa iyo, at marami ang hihingi ng tulong sa iyo. 20Pero ang masasama ay mabibigo at walang patutunguhan. At ang tanging pag-asa nila ay kamatayan.”
