Job 11

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:

Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be accounted right?

“Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?

3 Thy boastings have made men hold their peace, and thou hast mocked, with none to make thee ashamed;

Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke?

4 And thou hast said: 'My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in Thine eyes.'

You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.’

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

But if only God would speak and open His lips against you,

6 And that He would tell thee the secrets of wisdom, that sound wisdom is manifold! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.

7 Canst thou find out the deep things of God? Canst thou attain unto the purpose of the Almighty?

Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?

8 It is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than the nether-world; what canst thou know? (Sheol h7585)

They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know? (Sheol h7585)

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

Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

10 If He pass by, and shut up, or gather in, then who can hinder Him?

If He comes along to imprison you, or convenes a court, who can stop Him?

11 For He knoweth base men; and when He seeth iniquity, will He not then consider it?

Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?

12 But an empty man will get understanding, when a wild ass's colt is born a man.

But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man!

13 If thou set thy heart aright, and stretch out thy hands toward Him —

As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him,

14 If iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away, and let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents —

if you put away the iniquity in your hand, and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents,

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

then indeed you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and unafraid.

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

For you will forget your misery, recalling it only as waters gone by.

17 And thy life shall be clearer than the noonday; though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.

Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.

18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt look about thee, and shalt take thy rest in safety.

You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety.

19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor.

20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall have no way to flee, and their hope shall be the drooping of the soul.

But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”