Job 11

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:

And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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