Job 11

1 Then Sophar the Naamathite answered, and said:

And Zophar the Naamathite answers and says:

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

“Is a multitude of words not answered? And is a man of lips justified?

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

Your boastings make men keep silent, You scorn, and none is causing blushing!

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

And you say, My discourse [is] pure, And I have been clean in Your eyes.

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

And yet, O that God had spoken! And opens His lips with you.

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 declares to you secrets of wisdom, for counsel has foldings. And know that God forgets of your iniquity for you.

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

Do you find out God by searching? To perfection find out the Mighty One?

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

Heights of the heavens—what [can] you do? Deeper than Sheol—what [can] you know? (Sheol h7585)

9 The measure of him is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

Its measure [is] longer than earth, and broader than the sea.

10 If he shall overturn all things, or shall press them together, who shall contradict him?

If He passes on, and shuts up, and assembles, Who then reverses it?

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

For He has known men of vanity, And He sees iniquity, And one does not consider [it]!

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

And empty man is bold, And man is born [as] the colt of a wild donkey.

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

If you have prepared your heart, And have spread out your hands to 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 [is] in your hand, put it far off, And do not let perverseness dwell in your tents.

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

For then you lift up your face from blemish, And you have been firm, and do not fear.

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

For you forget misery, As waters passed away you remember.

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 age rises above the noon, You fly—you are as the morning.

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

And you have trusted because there is hope, And searched—in confidence you lie down,

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

And you have rested, And none is causing trembling, And many have begged [at] your face;

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.

And the eyes of the wicked are consumed, And refuge has perished from them, And their hope [is] a breathing out of soul!”