Job 20:4-7
Zophar connects wickedness with hypocrisy, and then connects both of them with pride. Where does pride appear here? It is in the word excellency—"through their own self-perceived excellency." Many modern translations, seeing what Zophar intended, translate "excellency" as "haughtiness."
The hypocrite is deceived into ignoring realities the meek and humble person might quickly recognize. A deceived person does not know he is deceived, or he would not be deceived. Pride is so powerful that it can deceive quite intelligent people. It is not a matter of intelligence but one of the right kind of knowledge and the willingness to submit to it.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Pride, Humility, and Fasting
Zophar links wickedness with hypocrisy and both with pride, which appears in the word "excellency," reflecting self-perceived superiority that many translations render as "haughtiness." The hypocrite is deceived into ignoring realities that a meek and humble person would quickly recognize. A deceived person does not know he is deceived, for otherwise he would not be deceived. Pride is powerful enough to deceive even intelligent people. Escaping such deception is not a matter of intelligence but of possessing the right kind of knowledge and being willing to submit to it.