Job 11

1 And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,

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

"Shouldn't the multitude of words be answered? 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 boastings make men hold their peace? 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 say, 'My doctrine is pure. 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!

that he would show you the secrets of wisdom. For true wisdom has two sides. 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 fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of Shaddai?

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

They are high as heaven. 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.

Its measure 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 passes by, or confines, or convenes a court, then who can oppose him?

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

For he knows false men. He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn't consider it.

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

An empty-headed man becomes wise when a man is born as a wild donkey's colt.

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

"If you set your heart aright, 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 is in your hand, put it far away. Do not let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.

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

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

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

for you shall forget your misery. You shall remember it as waters that are passed away.

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

Life shall be clearer than the noonday. Though there is darkness, it 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.

You shall be secure, because there is hope. Yes, you shall search, and 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. Yes, many shall 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 shall fail. They shall have no way to flee. Their hope shall be the giving up of the spirit."