Job 11
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite began speaking and said,
But Zophar the Naamathite, responding, said:
2 “So many words be answered, shouldn't they? Or is a person proved right by doing a lot of talking?
Will he who speaks much, not also listen? Or will a talkative man be justified?
3 Should all your babbling force people to keep quiet? When you mock, shouldn't someone make you feel ashamed?
Will men be silent only for you? And when you have mocked others, will no one refute you?
4 You said, ‘What I teach is the pure truth,’ and ‘in God's eyes I am clean.’
For you said: “My word is pure, and I am clean in your sight.”
5 If only God would speak up and tell you directly,
Yet I wish that God would speak with you, and would open his lips to you,
6 because then he would explain to you the secrets of wisdom. True wisdom has many sides to it. God's treatment of you is far better than your guilt deserves.
so that he might reveal to you the secrets of wisdom, and how intricate his law is, and that you would understand how much less he requires of you than your iniquity deserves.
7 Can you find out the mysteries of God? Can you discover all the wisdom of the Almighty?
By chance, will you comprehend the footsteps of God and reach all the way to the perfection of the Almighty?
8 It is greater than the heavens—what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol—what can you know? (Sheol h7585)
He is higher than heaven, and what will you do? He is deeper than hell, but how will you know? (Sheol h7585)
9 It extends farther than the earth, and wider than the sea.
His measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
10 If God comes and imprisons someone, or assembles the court for judgment, who can stop him?
If he overturns all things, or packs them together, who will contradict him?
11 For God knows who are deceivers—when he sees someone sin, he pays attention to it.
For he knows the vanity of men, and when he sees iniquity, does he not evaluate it?
12 Stupid people will become wise when wild donkeys are born tame!
A vain man is lifted up in arrogance, and he thinks that he is born free like a wild ass’s colt.
13 But if you repent and spread out your hands to pray to him,
But you have fortified your heart and extended your hands to him.
14 if you get rid of your sins and don't let wickedness continue in your life,
If you would send away from you the iniquity that is in your hand, and not let injustice remain in your tabernacle,
15 then you would be able to hold your head high in innocence, you will be firm and unafraid.
then you would be able to lift up your face without blemish, and you would be steadfast and unafraid.
16 You will forget your misery, remembering it only as water under the bridge.
Misery, likewise, you would forget, or would remember only like waters that have passed by.
17 Your life will shine brighter than the noonday sun; even darkness will be like the morning.
And brightness, like that of midday, will rise upon you until evening, and when you would think yourself consumed, you will rise up like the morning star.
18 You will have confidence because there is hope; you will be protected and rest in safety.
And, when hope has been set before you, you will have faith, and, when buried, you will sleep secure.
19 You will lie down to sleep with no one to frighten you, and many will come asking for your favor.
You will rest, and there will be nothing to make you afraid, and many will make requests before your face.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail, they will not be able to escape, and their only hope is in death.”
But the eyes of the impious will fade away, and the path to escape will perish before them, for the abomination of the soul is their hope.
