Job 11

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

Then Zophar the Naamathite made answer and said,

2 “Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?

Are all these words to go unanswered? and is a man seen to be right because he is full of talk?

3 Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke?

Are your words of pride to make men keep quiet? and are you to make sport, with no one to put you to shame?

4 You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.’

You may say, My way is clean, and I am free from sin in your eyes.

5 But if only God would speak and open His lips against you,

But if only God would take up the word, opening his lips in argument with you;

6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.

And would make clear to you the secrets of wisdom, and the wonders of his purpose!

7 Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?

Are you able to take God's measure, to make discovery of the limits of the Ruler of all?

8 They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know? (Sheol h7585)

They are higher than heaven; what is there for you to do? deeper than the underworld, and outside your knowledge; (Sheol h7585)

9 Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

Longer in measure than the earth, and wider than the sea.

10 If He comes along to imprison you, or convenes a court, who can stop Him?

If he goes on his way, shutting a man up and putting him to death, who may make him go back from his purpose?

11 Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?

For in his eyes men are as nothing; he sees evil and takes note of it.

12 But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man!

And so a hollow-minded man will get wisdom, when a young ass of the field gets teaching.

13 As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him,

But if you put your heart right, stretching out your hands to him;

14 if you put away the iniquity in your hand, and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents,

If you put far away the evil of your hands, and let no wrongdoing have a place in your tent;

15 then indeed you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and unafraid.

Then truly your face will be lifted up, with no mark of sin, and you will be fixed in your place without fear:

16 For you will forget your misery, recalling it only as waters gone by.

For your sorrow will go from your memory, like waters flowing away:

17 Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.

And your life will be brighter than day; though it is dark, it will become like the morning.

18 You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety.

And you will be safe because there is hope; after looking round, you will take your rest in quiet;

19 You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor.

Sleeping with no fear of danger; and men will be desiring to have grace in your eyes;

20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”

But the eyes of the evil-doers will be wasting away; their way of flight is gone, and their only hope is the taking of their last breath.