Job 11
1 Then Sophar the Naamathite answered, and said:
Then Zophar, from [the] Naamah [area], said this to Job:
2 Shall not he that speaketh much, hear also? or shall a man full of talk be justified?
“(Should no one answer all that you have said?/Someone should certainly answer all that you have said.) [RHQ] Just because you talk a lot, (should that cause us to declare that you (are innocent/have done nothing wrong)?/that should not cause us to declare that you (are innocent/have done nothing wrong).) [RHQ]
3 Shall men hold their peace to thee only? and when thou hast mocked others, shall no man confute thee?
Job, (should your babbling cause us to be silent?/your babbling should certainly not cause us to be silent.) [RHQ] When you make fun of us, shall no one [rebuke you and] cause you to be ashamed?
4 For thou hast said: My word is pure, and I am clean in thy sight.
You say, ‘What I say is true; God knows that I am (innocent/without guilt).’
5 And I wish that God would speak with thee, and would open his lips to thee,
But I wish/desire that God would talk and say something [MTY] to answer 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.
God knows everything about everything, so I wish/desire that he would tell you the secrets that he knows because he is wise. But you need to know that God is punishing you less than you deserve!
7 Peradventure thou wilt comprehend the steps of God, and wilt find out the Almighty perfectly?
[“Tell me], will you ever be able to find out the things about God that are very difficult to understand? Will you be able to find out everything that there is to know about Almighty God?
8 He is higher than heaven, and what wilt thou do? he is deeper than hell, and how wilt thou know? (Sheol h7585)
[What there is to know about God] is greater than [the distance from earth to] heaven; so there is no way [RHQ] that you can [understand it all]. It is greater than [the distance from here to] the place of the dead; so it is impossible for you [RHQ] to know it all. (Sheol h7585)
9 The measure of him is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
What there is to know about God is wider than the earth and wider than the ocean.
10 If he shall overturn all things, or shall press them together, who shall contradict him?
“If God comes to you and puts you in prison and then brings you to a court, (who can stop him?/no one can stop him.) [RHQ]
11 For he knoweth the vanity of men, and when he seeth iniquity, doth he not consider it?
He knows which people are worthless; and when he sees people doing wicked things, (will he ignore it?/he will certainly not ignore it!) [RHQ]
12 A vain man is lifted up into pride, and thinketh himself born free like a wild ass’s colt.
Stupid people [like you] will start to become wise [SAR] when wild donkeys [stop giving birth to wild donkeys and] start giving birth to tame donkeys.
13 Rut thou hast hardened thy heart, and hast spread thy hands to him.
“Job, repent [IDM]; reach out your hands to seek God’s help.
14 If thou wilt put away from thee the iniquity that is in thy hand, and lot not injustice remain in thy tabernacle:
If you have done evil things, stop doing them; and do not allow any people in your house to do wicked things.
15 Then mayst thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear.
If you do what I have said, surely you will lift up your head because you will not be ashamed; you will be strong, and not afraid [of anything].
16 Thou shalt also forget misery, and remember it only as waters that are passed away.
You will forget all your troubles; they will be like [the] water [of a flood] that has all disappeared.
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.
[Your troubles will be ended, like the darkness ends] at the dawn; [it will be as though] [MET] the sun is shining brightly on you, like [it shines] at noon.
18 And thou shalt have confidence, hope being set before thee, and being buried thou shalt sleep secure.
You will feel safe/secure, because you will confidently expect [that good things will happen to you]; God will protect you and enable you to rest safely [each night].
19 Thou shalt rest, and there shall be none to make thee afraid: and many shall entreat thy face.
You will lie down, and no one will cause you to be afraid. And many people will come and request you to do things for them.
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 wicked people [SYN] will not be able to understand [why bad things are happening to them]; they will not have any way to escape [from their troubles]. The only thing that they will want to do is to die. [EUP]”
