Job 11

1 And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

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

“Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?

3 Should thy fictions make men hold their peace? and shouldest thou mock, and no one make [thee] ashamed?

Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke?

4 For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.’

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

But if only God would speak and open His lips against you,

6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, how that they are the double of what is realised; and know that God passeth by [much] of thine iniquity!

and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.

7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection?

Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?

8 [It is as] the heights of heaven; what wilt thou do? deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know? (Sheol h7585)

They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know? (Sheol h7585)

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

Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

10 If he pass by, and shut up, and call to judgment, who can hinder him?

If He comes along to imprison you, or convenes a court, who can stop Him?

11 For he knoweth vain men, and seeth wickedness when [man] doth not consider it;

Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?

12 Yet a senseless man will make bold, though man be born [like] the foal of a wild ass.

But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man!

13 If thou prepare thy heart and stretch out thy hands toward him,

As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him,

14 If thou put far away the iniquity which is in thy hand, and let not wrong dwell in thy tents;

if you put away the iniquity in your hand, and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents,

15 Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shalt be stedfast and shalt not fear:

then indeed you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and unafraid.

16 For thou shalt forget misery; as waters that are passed away shalt thou remember it;

For you will forget your misery, recalling it only as waters gone by.

17 And life shall arise brighter than noonday; though thou be enshrouded in darkness, thou shalt be as the morning,

Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.

18 And thou shalt have confidence, because there shall be hope; and having searched about [thee], thou shalt take rest in safety.

You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety.

19 Yea, thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; and many shall seek thy favour.

You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor.

20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and [all] refuge shall vanish from them, and their hope [shall be] the breathing out of life.

But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”