Job 11

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

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

Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

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

Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

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

For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

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

But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

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 that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

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

Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

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

It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? (Sheol h7585)

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

The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

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

If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

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

For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

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

For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild donkey’s colt.

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

If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

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

If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

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

For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

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

Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

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

And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

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

And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

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

Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

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 shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.