Job 11

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:

Then Zophar the Naamathite began speaking and said,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If only God would speak up and tell you directly,

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

It extends farther 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 God comes and imprisons someone, or assembles the court for judgment, who can stop him?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your life will shine brighter than the noonday sun; even 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 have confidence because there is hope; you will be protected and rest 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 to sleep with no one to frighten you, and many will come asking for 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, they will not be able to escape, and their only hope is in death.”