Job 11

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite made answer and said,

And Zophar the Naamathite answers and says:

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

“Is a multitude of words not answered? And is a man of lips justified?

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

Your boastings make men keep silent, You scorn, and none is causing blushing!

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

And you say, My discourse [is] pure, And I have been clean in Your eyes.

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

And yet, O that God had spoken! And opens His lips with you.

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

And declares to you secrets of wisdom, for counsel has foldings. And know that God forgets of your iniquity for you.

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

Do you find out God by searching? To perfection find out the Mighty One?

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

Heights of the heavens—what [can] you do? Deeper than Sheol—what [can] you know? (Sheol h7585)

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

Its measure [is] longer than earth, and broader than the sea.

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

If He passes on, and shuts up, and assembles, Who then reverses it?

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

For He has known men of vanity, And He sees iniquity, And one does not consider [it]!

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

And empty man is bold, And man is born [as] the colt of a wild donkey.

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

If you have prepared your heart, And have spread out your hands to Him,

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

If iniquity [is] in your hand, put it far off, And do not let perverseness dwell in your tents.

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

For then you lift up your face from blemish, And you have been firm, and do not fear.

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

For you forget misery, As waters passed away you remember.

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

And age rises above the noon, You fly—you are as the morning.

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

And you have trusted because there is hope, And searched—in confidence you lie down,

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

And you have rested, And none is causing trembling, And many have begged [at] your face;

20 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.

And the eyes of the wicked are consumed, And refuge has perished from them, And their hope [is] a breathing out of soul!”