Job 11

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:

Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

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

He that speaks much, should also hear on the other side: or does the fluent speaker think himself to be righteous? blessed [is] the short lived offspring of woman.

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

Be not a speaker of many words; for is there none to answer you?

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

For say not, I am pure in my works, and blameless before him.

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

But oh that the Lord would speak to you, and open his lips to 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.

Then shall he declare to you the power of wisdom; for it shall be double of that which is with you: and then shall you know, that a just recompence of your sins has come to you from the Lord.

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

Will you find out the traces of the Lord? or have you come to the end [of that] which the Almighty has made?

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

Heaven [is] high; and what will you do? and there are deeper things than those in hell; what do you know? (Sheol h7585)

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

Or longer than the measure of the earth, or the breadth of the sea.

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

And if he should overthrow all things, who will say to him, What have you done?

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

For he knows the works of transgressors; and when he sees wickedness, he will not overlook [it].

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

But man vainly buoys himself up with words; and a mortal born of woman [is] like an ass in the desert.

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

For if you have made your heart pure, and lift up [your] hands towards him;

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

if there is any iniquity in your hands, put if far from you, and let not unrighteousness lodge in your habitation.

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

For thus shall your countenance shine again, as pure water; and you shall dive yourself of uncleanness, and shall not fear.

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

And you shall forget trouble, as a wave that has passed by; and you shall not be scared.

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

And your prayer [shall be] as the morning star, and life shall arise to you [as] from the noonday.

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

And you shall be confident, because you have hope; and peace shall dawn to you from out of anxiety and care.

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

For you shall be at ease, and there shall be no one to fight against you; and many shall charge, and make supplication to you.

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 safety shall fail them; for their hope is destruction, and the eyes of the ungodly shall waste away.