Job 11

1 But Zophar the Naamathite, responding, said:

And Zophar the Naamathite answereth and saith: —

2 Will he who speaks much, not also listen? Or will a talkative man be justified?

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

3 Will men be silent only for you? And when you have mocked others, will no one refute you?

Thy devices make men keep silent, Thou scornest, and none is causing blushing!

4 For you said: “My word is pure, and I am clean in your sight.”

And thou sayest, 'Pure [is] my discourse, And clean I have been in Thine eyes.'

5 Yet I wish that God would speak with you, and would open his lips to you,

And yet, O that God had spoken! And doth open His lips with thee.

6 so that he might reveal to you the secrets of wisdom, and how intricate his law is, and that you would understand how much less he requires of you than your iniquity deserves.

And declare to thee secrets of wisdom, For counsel hath foldings. And know thou that God forgetteth for thee, [Some] of thine iniquity.

7 By chance, will you comprehend the footsteps of God and reach all the way to the perfection of the Almighty?

By searching dost thou find out God? Unto perfection find out the Mighty One?

8 He is higher than heaven, and what will you do? He is deeper than hell, but how will you know? (Sheol h7585)

Heights of the heavens! — what dost thou? Deeper than Sheol! — what knowest thou? (Sheol h7585)

9 His measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

Longer than earth [is] its measure, And broader than the sea.

10 If he overturns all things, or packs them together, who will contradict him?

If He pass on, and shut up, and assemble, Who then dost reverse it?

11 For he knows the vanity of men, and when he sees iniquity, does he not evaluate it?

For he hath known men of vanity, And He seeth iniquity, And one doth not consider [it]!

12 A vain man is lifted up in arrogance, and he thinks that he is born free like a wild ass’s colt.

And empty man is bold, And the colt of a wild ass man is born.

13 But you have fortified your heart and extended your hands to him.

If thou — thou hast prepared thy heart, And hast spread out unto Him thy hands,

14 If you would send away from you the iniquity that is in your hand, and not let injustice remain in your tabernacle,

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

15 then you would be able to lift up your face without blemish, and you would be steadfast and unafraid.

For then thou liftest up thy face from blemish, And thou hast been firm, and fearest not.

16 Misery, likewise, you would forget, or would remember only like waters that have passed by.

For thou dost forget misery, As waters passed away thou rememberest.

17 And brightness, like that of midday, will rise upon you until evening, and when you would think yourself consumed, you will rise up like the morning star.

And above the noon doth age rise, Thou fliest — as the morning thou art.

18 And, when hope has been set before you, you will have faith, and, when buried, you will sleep secure.

And thou hast trusted because their is hope, And searched — in confidence thou liest down,

19 You will rest, and there will be nothing to make you afraid, and many will make requests before your face.

And thou hast rested, And none is causing trembling, And many have entreated thy face;

20 But the eyes of the impious will fade away, and the path to escape will perish before them, for the abomination of the soul is their hope.

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