Job 11

1 Then Sophar the Naamathite answered, and said:

And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

2 Shall not he that speaketh much, hear also? or shall a man full of talk be justified?

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

3 Shall men hold their peace to thee only? and when thou hast mocked others, shall no man confute thee?

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

4 For thou hast said: My word is pure, and I am clean in thy sight.

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

5 And I wish that God would speak with thee, and would open his lips to thee,

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

6 That he might shew thee the secrets of wisdom, and that his law is manifold, and thou mightest understand that he exacteth much less of thee, than thy iniquity deserveth.

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!

7 Peradventure thou wilt comprehend the steps of God, and wilt find out the Almighty perfectly?

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

8 He is higher than heaven, and what wilt thou do? he is deeper than hell, and how wilt thou know? (Sheol h7585)

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

9 The measure of him 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 shall overturn all things, or shall press them together, who shall contradict him?

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

11 For he knoweth the vanity of men, and when he seeth iniquity, doth he not consider it?

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

12 A vain man is lifted up into pride, and thinketh himself born free like a wild ass’s colt.

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

13 Rut thou hast hardened thy heart, and hast spread thy hands to him.

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

14 If thou wilt put away from thee the iniquity that is in thy hand, and lot not injustice remain in thy tabernacle:

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

15 Then mayst thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear.

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

16 Thou shalt also forget misery, and remember it only as waters that are passed away.

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

17 And brightness like that of the noonday, shall arise to thee at evening: and when thou shalt think thyself consumed, thou shalt rise as the day star.

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

18 And thou shalt have confidence, hope being set before thee, and being buried thou shalt sleep secure.

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

19 Thou shalt rest, and there shall be none to make thee afraid: and many shall entreat thy face.

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

20 But the eyes of the wicked shall decay, and the way to escape shall fail them, and their hope the abomination of the soul.

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.