< Job 11 >

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:
And Zophar the Naamathite answers and says:
2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be accounted right?
“Is a multitude of words not answered? And is a man of lips justified?
3 Thy boastings have made men hold their peace, and thou hast mocked, with none to make thee ashamed;
Your boastings make men keep silent, You scorn, and none is causing blushing!
4 And thou hast said: 'My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in Thine eyes.'
And you say, My discourse [is] pure, And I have been clean in Your eyes.
5 But oh that God would speak, and open His lips against thee;
And yet, O that God had spoken! And opens His lips with 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 declares to you secrets of wisdom, for counsel has foldings. And know that God forgets of your iniquity for you.
7 Canst thou find out the deep things of God? Canst thou attain unto the purpose of the Almighty?
Do you find out God by searching? To perfection find out the Mighty One?
8 It is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than the nether-world; what canst thou know? (Sheol h7585)
Heights of the heavens—what [can] you do? Deeper than Sheol—what [can] you know? (Sheol h7585)
9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
Its measure [is] longer than earth, and broader than the sea.
10 If He pass by, and shut up, or gather in, then who can hinder Him?
If He passes on, and shuts up, and assembles, Who then reverses it?
11 For He knoweth base men; and when He seeth iniquity, will He not then consider it?
For He has known men of vanity, And He sees iniquity, And one does not consider [it]!
12 But an empty man will get understanding, when a wild ass's colt is born a man.
And empty man is bold, And man is born [as] the colt of a wild donkey.
13 If thou set thy heart aright, and stretch out thy hands toward Him —
If you have prepared your heart, And have spread out your hands to Him,
14 If iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away, and let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents —
If iniquity [is] in your hand, put it far off, And do not let perverseness dwell in your tents.
15 Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear;
For then you lift up your face from blemish, And you have been firm, and do not fear.
16 For thou shalt forget thy misery; thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away;
For you forget misery, As waters passed away you remember.
17 And thy life shall be clearer than the noonday; though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.
And age rises above the noon, You fly—you are 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 you have trusted because there is hope, And searched—in confidence you lie down,
19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
And you have rested, And none is causing trembling, And many have begged [at] your face;
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.
And the eyes of the wicked are consumed, And refuge has perished from them, And their hope [is] a breathing out of soul!”

< Job 11 >