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?

Shall not the multitude of words receive an answer? Shall the man of words be justified?

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

Shall thy boastings make men hold their peace? Shalt thou mock, and none put thee to shame?

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

Thou sayest, My speech is pure; I am clean in thine eyes, [[O God!]]

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

But O that God would speak, And open his lips against thee;

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 thee the secrets of his wisdom, —His wisdom, which is unsearchable! Then shouldst thou know that God forgiveth thee many of thine iniquities.

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

Canst thou search out the deep things of God? Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection?

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

'Tis high as heaven, what canst thou do? Deeper than hell, what canst thou 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 apprehend, and bind, and bring to trial, Who shall oppose him?

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

For he knoweth the unrighteous; He seeth iniquity, when they do not observe it.

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

But vain man is without understanding; Yea, man is born a wild ass's colt.

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

If thou direct thy heart, And stretch out thy 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 thou put away iniquity from thy hand, And let not wickedness dwell in thy habitation, —

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

Then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; Yea, thou shalt be steadfast, and have no fear.

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

For thou shalt forget thy misery, Or remember it as waters that have passed away.

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

Thy life shall be brighter than the noon-day; Now thou art in darkness, thou shalt then be as morning.

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

Thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; Now thou art disappointed, thou shalt then rest in safety.

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

Thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; And many shall make suit unto thee.

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 be wearied out; They shall find no refuge; Their hope is—the breathing forth of life.