Job 11

1 And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But oh that 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 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 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And your age shall be clearer than the noonday: you shall shine forth, you shall be as 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 shall be secure, because there is hope; yea, you shall dig about you, and you shall take your rest in safety.

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

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

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