Job 11
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
Then Zophar, from [the] Naamah [area], said this to Job:
2 “Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?
“(Should no one answer all that you have said?/Someone should certainly answer all that you have said.) [RHQ] Just because you talk a lot, (should that cause us to declare that you (are innocent/have done nothing wrong)?/that should not cause us to declare that you (are innocent/have done nothing wrong).) [RHQ]
3 Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke?
Job, (should your babbling cause us to be silent?/your babbling should certainly not cause us to be silent.) [RHQ] When you make fun of us, shall no one [rebuke you and] cause you to be ashamed?
4 You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.’
You say, ‘What I say is true; God knows that I am (innocent/without guilt).’
5 But if only God would speak and open His lips against you,
But I wish/desire that God would talk and say something [MTY] to answer 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.
God knows everything about everything, so I wish/desire that he would tell you the secrets that he knows because he is wise. But you need to know that God is punishing you less than you deserve!
7 Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?
[“Tell me], will you ever be able to find out the things about God that are very difficult to understand? Will you be able to find out everything that there is to know about Almighty God?
8 They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know? (Sheol h7585)
[What there is to know about God] is greater than [the distance from earth to] heaven; so there is no way [RHQ] that you can [understand it all]. It is greater than [the distance from here to] the place of the dead; so it is impossible for you [RHQ] to know it all. (Sheol h7585)
9 Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
What there is to know about God is wider than the earth and wider than the ocean.
10 If He comes along to imprison you, or convenes a court, who can stop Him?
“If God comes to you and puts you in prison and then brings you to a court, (who can stop him?/no one can stop him.) [RHQ]
11 Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?
He knows which people are worthless; and when he sees people doing wicked things, (will he ignore it?/he will certainly not ignore it!) [RHQ]
12 But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man!
Stupid people [like you] will start to become wise [SAR] when wild donkeys [stop giving birth to wild donkeys and] start giving birth to tame donkeys.
13 As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him,
“Job, repent [IDM]; reach out your hands to seek God’s help.
14 if you put away the iniquity in your hand, and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents,
If you have done evil things, stop doing them; and do not allow any people in your house to do wicked things.
15 then indeed you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and unafraid.
If you do what I have said, surely you will lift up your head because you will not be ashamed; you will be strong, and not afraid [of anything].
16 For you will forget your misery, recalling it only as waters gone by.
You will forget all your troubles; they will be like [the] water [of a flood] that has all disappeared.
17 Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.
[Your troubles will be ended, like the darkness ends] at the dawn; [it will be as though] [MET] the sun is shining brightly on you, like [it shines] at noon.
18 You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety.
You will feel safe/secure, because you will confidently expect [that good things will happen to you]; God will protect you and enable you to rest safely [each night].
19 You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor.
You will lie down, and no one will cause you to be afraid. And many people will come and request you to do things for them.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”
But wicked people [SYN] will not be able to understand [why bad things are happening to them]; they will not have any way to escape [from their troubles]. The only thing that they will want to do is to die. [EUP]”
