Job 11

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

Then Zophar the Naamathite began speaking and said,

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

“So many words be answered, shouldn't they? Or is a person proved right by doing a lot of talking?

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

Should all your babbling force people to keep quiet? When you mock, shouldn't someone make you feel ashamed?

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

You said, ‘What I teach is the pure truth,’ and ‘in God's eyes I am clean.’

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

If only God would speak up and tell you directly,

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.

because then he would explain to you the secrets of wisdom. True wisdom has many sides to it. God's treatment of you is far better than your guilt deserves.

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

Can you find out the mysteries of God? Can you discover all the wisdom 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)

It is greater than the heavens—what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol—what can you know? (Sheol h7585)

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

It extends farther 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 God comes and imprisons someone, or assembles the court for judgment, who can stop him?

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

For God knows who are deceivers—when he sees someone sin, he pays attention to it.

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

Stupid people will become wise when wild donkeys are born tame!

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

But if you repent and spread out your hands to pray to him,

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

if you get rid of your sins and don't let wickedness continue in your life,

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

then you would be able to hold your head high in innocence, you will be firm and unafraid.

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

You will forget your misery, remembering it only as water under the bridge.

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

Your life will shine brighter than the noonday sun; even darkness will be like the morning.

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

You will have confidence because there is hope; you will be protected and rest in safety.

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

You will lie down to sleep with no one to frighten you, and many will come asking for your favor.

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 wicked will fail, they will not be able to escape, and their only hope is in death.”