Job 11

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:

Then answered Zophar the Na'amathite, and said.

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

Shall a multitude of words not be answered? and is it so that a man full of talk shall be deemed in the right?

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

Thy inventions are to bring men to silence; and when thou utterest thy mocking no one is to cause thee to feel abashed!

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

For thou hast said [to God], My doctrine is pure, and I am become clean in thy eyes.

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

But oh that God would but 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 declare unto thee the secrets of wisdom; for it is double to that which is really in our possession: and thou wouldst experience that God overlooketh unto thee much of thy iniquity.

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

Canst thou find out the experience of God? or canst thou find [the way] unto the utmost limit 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 as high as heaven; what canst thou effect? it is deeper than the nether world; what canst thou know? (Sheol h7585)

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

Longer than the earth is its measure, 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 surrender [one to suffering], and call together an assembly, who can hinder him?

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

For he knoweth the men of vanity: he seeth the wrong-doer and him who considereth not;

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

And the heartless who acquireth intelligence, and him who is [like] the colt of the wild ass who is transformed into a man.

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

If thou truly direct [aright] thy heart, and spread 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 wrong be in thy hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tents.

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

For then canst thou lift up thy face free from blemish: yea, thou wilt stand steadfast, and needest not to fear;

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

Because thou wilt truly forget thy trouble, and as a waterflood that is passed away wilt thou remember it;

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

And brighter than the noon of day will thy earthly existence arise; and thy obscurity will be like thy 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 wilt feel trust, because there is hope: yea, thou wilt search about carefully, and thou wilt lie down in safety.

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

Also thou wilt stretch thyself out [to rest], with none to make thee afraid; and many will entreat thy 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 shall fail, and the means of escape will vanish from them, and their [sole] hope shall be the breathing out of their soul.