Job 11

1 Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered 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 such a multitude of words be answered? Should this man, so full of talk, be believed?

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

Should your boasting make others remain silent? When you mock, will no one make you feel ashamed?

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

For you say to God, 'My beliefs are pure, I am blameless 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.

that he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For he is great in understanding. Know then that God demands from 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 understand God by searching for him? Can you comprehend the Almighty perfectly?

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

The matter is as high as heaven; what can you do? It is 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 wider than the sea.

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

If he passes through and shuts anyone up, if he calls anyone to judgment, then who can stop him?

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

For he knows false people; when he sees iniquity, does he not notice it?

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

But foolish people have no understanding; they will get it when a wild donkey gives birth to a man.

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

But suppose that you had set your heart right and had reached out with your hands toward God;

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

suppose that iniquity were in your hand, but that then you put it far away from you, and did not let unrighteousness live in your tents.

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

Then you would certainly lift up your face without a sign of shame; indeed, you would be steadfast and would not fear.

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

You would forget your misery; you would remember it only like waters that have flowed away.

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

Your life would be brighter than the noonday; though there were darkness, it would become like the morning.

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

You would be secure because there is hope; indeed, you would find safety about you and would 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 would lie down in rest, and none would make you afraid; indeed, many would seek your favor.

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

But the eyes of wicked people will fail; they will have no way to flee; their only hope will be a last gasp of life.”