Job 11
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, and said,
Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,
2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be justified?
“Should not such a multitude of words be answered? Should this man, so full of talk, be believed?
3 Should thy boastings make men hold their peace? And when thou mock, shall no man make thee ashamed?
Should your boasting make others remain silent? When you mock, will no one make you feel ashamed?
4 For thou say, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.
For you say to God, 'My beliefs are pure, I am blameless in your eyes.'
5 But O that God would speak, and open his lips against thee,
But, oh, that God would speak and open his lips against you;
6 and that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know therefore that God exacts of thee less than thine iniquity deserves.
that he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For he is great in understanding. Know then that God demands from you less than your iniquity deserves.
7 Can thou find out God by searching? Can thou find out the Almighty to perfection?
Can you understand God by searching for him? Can you comprehend the Almighty perfectly?
The matter is as high as heaven; what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol; what can you know? (Sheol h7585)
9 The measure of it is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
Its measure is longer than the earth, and wider than the sea.
10 If he passes through, and shuts up, and all to judgment, then who can hinder him?
If he passes through and shuts anyone up, if he calls anyone to judgment, then who can stop him?
11 For he knows false men. He also sees iniquity. Will he not then consider it?
For he knows false people; when he sees iniquity, does he not notice it?
12 But vain man is void of understanding. Yea, man is born as a wild donkey's colt.
But foolish people have no understanding; they will get it when a wild donkey gives birth to a man.
13 If thou set thy heart aright, and stretch out thy hands toward him,
But suppose that you had set your heart right and had reached out with your hands toward God;
14 if iniquity is in thy hand, put it far away, and let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents.
suppose that iniquity were in your hand, but that then you put it far away from you, and did not let unrighteousness live in your tents.
15 Surely then thou shall lift up thy face without spot. Yea, thou shall be steadfast, and shall not fear.
Then you would certainly lift up your face without a sign of shame; indeed, you would be steadfast and would not fear.
16 For thou shall forget thy misery. Thou shall remember it as waters that are passed away.
You would forget your misery; you would remember it only like waters that have flowed away.
17 And thy life shall be clearer than the noonday. Though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.
Your life would be brighter than the noonday; though there were darkness, it would become like the morning.
18 And thou shall be secure, because there is hope. Yea, thou shall search about thee, and shall take thy rest in safety.
You would be secure because there is hope; indeed, you would find safety about you and would take your rest in safety.
19 Also thou shall lie down, and none shall make thee afraid. Yea, many shall correspond with thee.
Also you would lie down in rest, and none would make you afraid; indeed, many would seek your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall have no way to flee. And their hope shall be the giving up of the spirit.
But the eyes of wicked people will fail; they will have no way to flee; their only hope will be a last gasp of life.”
