Job 11
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite began speaking and said,
Then Zophar, from [the] Naamah [area], said this to Job:
2 “So many words be answered, shouldn't they? Or is a person proved right by doing a lot of talking?
“(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 Should all your babbling force people to keep quiet? When you mock, shouldn't someone make you feel ashamed?
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 You said, ‘What I teach is the pure truth,’ and ‘in God's eyes I am clean.’
You say, ‘What I say is true; God knows that I am (innocent/without guilt).’
5 If only God would speak up and tell you directly,
But I wish/desire that God would talk and say something [MTY] to answer 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.
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 Can you find out the mysteries of God? Can you discover all the wisdom of the Almighty?
[“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 It is greater than the heavens—what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol—what can you 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 It extends farther than the earth, and wider than the sea.
What there is to know about God is wider than the earth and wider than the ocean.
10 If God comes and imprisons someone, or assembles the court for judgment, who can stop 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 God knows who are deceivers—when he sees someone sin, he pays attention to 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 Stupid people will become wise when wild donkeys are born tame!
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 But if you repent and spread out your hands to pray to him,
“Job, repent [IDM]; reach out your hands to seek God’s help.
14 if you get rid of your sins and don't let wickedness continue in your life,
If you have done evil things, stop doing them; and do not allow any people in your house to do wicked things.
15 then you would be able to hold your head high in innocence, you will be firm and unafraid.
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 You will forget your misery, remembering it only as water under the bridge.
You will forget all your troubles; they will be like [the] water [of a flood] that has all disappeared.
17 Your life will shine brighter than the noonday sun; even darkness will be like the morning.
[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 You will have confidence because there is hope; you will be protected and rest in safety.
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 You will lie down to sleep with no one to frighten you, and many will come asking for your favor.
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 will fail, they will not be able to escape, and their only hope is in death.”
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]”
