Job 11

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite began speaking and said,

And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

2 “So many words be answered, shouldn't they? Or is a person proved right by doing a lot of talking?

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

3 Should all your babbling force people to keep quiet? When you mock, shouldn't someone make you feel ashamed?

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

4 You said, ‘What I teach is the pure truth,’ and ‘in God's eyes I am clean.’

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

5 If only God would speak up and tell you directly,

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

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.

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 Can you find out the mysteries of God? Can you discover all the wisdom of the Almighty?

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

8 It is greater than the heavens—what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol—what can you know? (Sheol h7585)

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

9 It extends farther than the earth, and wider than the sea.

The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

10 If God comes and imprisons someone, or assembles the court for judgment, who can stop him?

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

11 For God knows who are deceivers—when he sees someone sin, he pays attention to it.

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

12 Stupid people will become wise when wild donkeys are born tame!

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

13 But if you repent and spread out your hands to pray to him,

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

14 if you get rid of your sins and don't let wickedness continue in your life,

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

15 then you would be able to hold your head high in innocence, you will be firm and unafraid.

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

16 You will forget your misery, remembering it only as water under the bridge.

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

17 Your life will shine brighter than the noonday sun; even darkness will be like the morning.

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

18 You will have confidence because there is hope; you will be protected and rest in safety.

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

19 You will lie down to sleep with no one to frighten you, and many will come asking for your favor.

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

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 wicked shall fail, and [all] refuge shall vanish from them, and their hope [shall be] the breathing out of life.