Job 11

1 Then Sophar the Naamathite answered, and said:

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, 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 full of 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 lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

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

For thou hast said, 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, that [they are] double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee [less] than thine iniquity [deserveth].

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 unto 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 high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; 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 cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then 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: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider [it]?

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

For vain man would be wise, though man be born [like] a wild ass’s colt.

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

If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine 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 iniquity [be] in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

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

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

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

Because thou shalt forget [thy] misery, [and] remember [it] as waters [that] pass away:

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 [thine] age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, 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 be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig [about thee, and] thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

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

Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make [thee] afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

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 they shall not escape, and their hope [shall be as] the giving up of the ghost.