Job 11

1 And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

Then Zophar the Naamathite made answer and said,

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

Are all these words to go unanswered? and is a man seen to be right because he is full of talk?

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

Are your words of pride to make men keep quiet? and are you to make sport, with no one to put you to shame?

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

You may say, My way is clean, and I am free from sin in your eyes.

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

But if only God would take up the word, opening his lips in argument with 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 would make clear to you the secrets of wisdom, and the wonders of his purpose!

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

Are you able to take God's measure, to make discovery of the limits of the Ruler of all?

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 heaven; what is there for you to do? deeper than the underworld, and outside your knowledge; (Sheol h7585)

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

Longer in measure 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 goes on his way, shutting a man up and putting him to death, who may make him go back from his purpose?

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

For in his eyes men are as nothing; he sees evil and takes note of it.

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

And so a hollow-minded man will get wisdom, when a young ass of the field gets teaching.

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

But if you put your heart right, stretching out 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 far away the evil of your hands, and let no wrongdoing have a place in your tent;

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

Then truly your face will be lifted up, with no mark of sin, and you will be fixed in your place without fear:

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

For your sorrow will go from your memory, like waters flowing away:

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

And your life will be brighter than day; though it is dark, it will become 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.

And you will be safe because there is hope; after looking round, you will take your rest in quiet;

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

Sleeping with no fear of danger; and men will be desiring to have grace in your eyes;

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 evil-doers will be wasting away; their way of flight is gone, and their only hope is the taking of their last breath.