1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, 2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? 3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? 4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. 5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee; 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 .
7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? 8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? 9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. 10 If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him? 11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it ? 12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.
13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him; 14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. 15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear: 16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away: 17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. 18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety. 19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee. 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.
Cofars: Ījabs ir pelnījis sodu
1 Cofars no Naamas atbildēja, sacīdams:
2 “Vai tik daudz vārdu paliks bez atbildes?
Vai gan pļāpam taisnība būs?
3 Tu gvelz, bet vīri cieš klusu!
Tu paļā, bet nav, kas tevi liek kaunā!
4 Tu saki: mani spriedumi tīri,
un es šķīsts tavā priekšā! –
5 Patiesi, kaut runātu Dievs
un vērtu uz tevi savas lūpas,
6 kaut stāstītu tev gudrības noslēpumus,
jo padomam divas puses!
Dievs mazāk prasa, nekā pelnījis grēks!
7 Vai Dieva dziļumus atklāt vari?
Vai Visuvarenā robežas atrast vari?
8 Tās augstu kā debesis, ko tu darīsi?
Tie dziļāk par elli, kā tu zināsi?
9 Par zemi garāks to mērs
un platāks par jūru.
10 Ja viņš nāks un valgiem sies,
un sasauks tiesu – kas viņam liegs?
11 Jo viņš niekkalbjus zina,
ieraudzīs vainu – vai neliksies zinis?
12 Bet tukšgalvis iegūs prātu,
kad mežēzelis par cilvēku dzims!
13 Ja tu stiprināsi savu sirdi,
ja stiepsi viņam savas plaukstas,
14 nometīsi grēku, kas tavā rokā,
nelaidīsi netaisnību savās teltīs –
15 tad brīvs no negoda celsi vaigu,
kaldināts un nebaidīsies,
16 savas mokas aizmirsīsi,
kā noskrējušus palus tās pieminēsi!
17 Par dienvidu spožāks tavs mūžs,
un tumsa kā rīts.
18 Tu paļausies, ka cerība ir,
tu lūkosies vietas un dusēsi drošs,
19 tu atgulsies, tevi netramdīs,
vēl daudzi tev vaigā glaimos!
20 Bet ļaundaru acis izīgs,
to patvērums izputēs,
to cerība – izlaist garu!”
