Job 11
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
But Zophar the Naamathite, responding, said:
2 “Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?
Will he who speaks much, not also listen? Or will a talkative man be justified?
3 Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke?
Will men be silent only for you? And when you have mocked others, will no one refute you?
4 You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.’
For you said: “My word is pure, and I am clean in your sight.”
5 But if only God would speak and open His lips against you,
Yet I wish that God would speak with you, and would open his lips to 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.
so that he might reveal to you the secrets of wisdom, and how intricate his law is, and that you would understand how much less he requires of you than your iniquity deserves.
7 Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?
By chance, will you comprehend the footsteps of God and reach all the way to the perfection of the Almighty?
8 They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know? (Sheol h7585)
He is higher than heaven, and what will you do? He is deeper than hell, but how will you know? (Sheol h7585)
9 Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
His measure is longer 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 overturns all things, or packs them together, who will contradict him?
11 Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?
For he knows the vanity of men, and when he sees iniquity, does he not evaluate it?
12 But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man!
A vain man is lifted up in arrogance, and he thinks that he is born free like a wild ass’s colt.
13 As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him,
But you have fortified your heart and extended 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 would send away from you the iniquity that is in your hand, and not let injustice remain in your tabernacle,
15 then indeed you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and unafraid.
then you would be able to lift up your face without blemish, and you would be steadfast and unafraid.
16 For you will forget your misery, recalling it only as waters gone by.
Misery, likewise, you would forget, or would remember only like waters that have passed by.
17 Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.
And brightness, like that of midday, will rise upon you until evening, and when you would think yourself consumed, you will rise up like the morning star.
18 You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety.
And, when hope has been set before you, you will have faith, and, when buried, you will sleep secure.
19 You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor.
You will rest, and there will be nothing to make you afraid, and many will make requests before your face.
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 impious will fade away, and the path to escape will perish before them, for the abomination of the soul is their hope.
