Job 11

1 Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

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.

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

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

Should your lies make men hold their peace? and when you mock, shall no man make you ashamed?

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

For you have said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in your eyes.

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

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

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

And that he would show you the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.

7 Will you find out the traces of the Lord? or have you come to the end [of that] which the Almighty has made?

Can you by searching find out God? can you find out the Almighty unto perfection?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For he knows vain men: he sees wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

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

For vain men would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.

13 For if you have made your heart pure, and lift up [your] hands towards him;

If you prepare your heart, and stretch out your hands toward him;

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

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

15 For thus shall your countenance shine again, as pure water; and you shall dive yourself of uncleanness, and shall not fear.

For then shall you lift up your face without spot; yea, you shall be steadfast, and shall not fear:

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

Because you shall forget your misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

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

And your age shall be clearer than the noonday: you shall shine forth, you shall be as the morning.

18 And you shall be confident, because you have hope; and peace shall dawn to you from out of anxiety and care.

And you shall be secure, because there is hope; yea, you shall dig about you, and you shall take your rest in safety.

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

Also you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto you.

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