Job 11

1 Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,

2 He that speaks much, should also hear on the other side: or does the fluent speaker think himself to be righteous? blessed [is] the short lived offspring of woman.

“Shouldn’t the multitude of words be answered? Should a man full of talk be justified?

3 Be not a speaker of many words; for is there none to answer thee?

Should your boastings make men hold their peace? When you mock, will no man make you ashamed?

4 For say not, I am pure in my works, and blameless before him.

For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure. I am clean in your eyes.’

5 But oh that the Lord would speak to thee, and open his lips to thee!

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

6 Then shall he declare to thee the power of wisdom; for it shall be double of that which is with thee: and then shalt thou know, that a just recompence of thy sins has come to thee from the Lord.

that he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For true wisdom has two sides. Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.

7 Wilt thou find out the traces of the Lord? or hast thou come to the end [of that] which the Almighty has made?

“Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

8 Heaven [is] high; and what wilt thou do? and there are deeper things than those in hell; what dost thou know? (Sheol h7585)

They are high as heaven. What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol. What can you know? (Sheol h7585)

9 Or longer than the measure of the earth, or the breadth of the sea.

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

10 And if he should overthrow all things, who will say to him, What hast thou done?

If he passes by, or confines, or convenes a court, then who can oppose him?

11 For he knows the works of transgressors; and when he sees wickedness, he will not overlook [it].

For he knows false men. He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn’t consider it.

12 But man vainly buoys himself up with words; and a mortal born of woman [is] like an ass in the desert.

An empty-headed man becomes wise when a man is born as a wild donkey’s colt.

13 For if thou hast made thine heart pure, and liftest up [thine] hands towards him;

“If you set your heart aright, stretch out your hands towards him.

14 if there is any iniquity in thy hands, put if far from thee, and let not unrighteousness lodge in thy habitation.

If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away. Don’t let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.

15 For thus shall thy countenance shine again, as pure water; and thou shalt divest thyself of uncleanness, and shalt not fear.

Surely then you will lift up your face without spot. Yes, you will be steadfast, and will not fear,

16 And thou shalt forget trouble, as a wave that has passed by; and thou shalt not be scared.

for you will forget your misery. You will remember it like waters that have passed away.

17 And thy prayer [shall be] as the morning star, and life shall arise to thee [as] from the noonday.

Life will be clearer than the noonday. Though there is darkness, it will be as the morning.

18 And thou shalt be confident, because thou hast hope; and peace shall dawn to thee from out of anxiety and care.

You will be secure, because there is hope. Yes, you will search, and will take your rest in safety.

19 For thou shalt be at ease, and there shall be no one to fight against thee; and many shall charge, and make supplication to thee.

Also you will lie down, and no one will make you afraid. Yes, many will court your favour.

20 But safety shall fail them; for their hope is destruction, and the eyes of the ungodly shall waste away.

But the eyes of the wicked will fail. They will have no way to flee. Their hope will be the giving up of the spirit.”