Job 11

1 And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

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

“Should not such a multitude of words be answered? Should this man, so full of talk, be believed?

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

Should your boasting make others remain silent? When you mock, will no one make you feel ashamed?

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

For you say to God, 'My beliefs are pure, I am blameless 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 he is great in understanding. Know then that God demands 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 understand God by searching for him? Can you comprehend the Almighty perfectly?

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

The matter is as high as heaven; what can you do? It is 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 wider than the sea.

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

If he passes through and shuts anyone up, if he calls anyone to judgment, then who can stop him?

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

For he knows false people; when he sees iniquity, does he not notice it?

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

But foolish people have no understanding; they will get it when a wild donkey gives birth to a man.

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

But suppose that you had set your heart right and had reached out with your hands toward God;

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

suppose that iniquity were in your hand, but that then you put it far away from you, and did not let unrighteousness live in your tents.

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

Then you would certainly lift up your face without a sign of shame; indeed, you would be steadfast and would not fear.

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

You would forget your misery; you would remember it only like waters that have flowed away.

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

Your life would be brighter than the noonday; though there were darkness, it would 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.

You would be secure because there is hope; indeed, you would find safety about you and would 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 would lie down in rest, and none would make you afraid; indeed, many would seek 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 wicked people will fail; they will have no way to flee; their only hope will be a last gasp of life.”