Job 11

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:

Then 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 such a multitude of words be answered? Should this man, so full of talk, be believed?

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

Should your boasting make others remain silent? When you mock, will no one make you feel ashamed?

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

For you say to God, 'My beliefs are pure, I am blameless in your 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 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.

that he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For he is great in understanding. Know then that God demands from you less than your iniquity deserves.

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

Can you understand God by searching for him? Can you comprehend the Almighty perfectly?

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

The matter is as high as heaven; 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.

Its measure is longer 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 he passes through and shuts anyone up, if he calls anyone to judgment, then who can stop him?

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

For he knows false people; when he sees iniquity, does he not notice it?

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

But foolish people have no understanding; they will get it when a wild donkey gives birth to a man.

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

But suppose that you had set your heart right and had reached out with your hands toward God;

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

suppose that iniquity were in your hand, but that then you put it far away from you, and did not let unrighteousness live in your tents.

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

Then you would certainly lift up your face without a sign of shame; indeed, you would be steadfast and would not fear.

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

You would forget your misery; you would remember it only like waters that have flowed away.

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

Your life would be brighter than the noonday; though there were darkness, it would become 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 would be secure because there is hope; indeed, you would find safety about you and would take your rest in safety.

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

Also you would lie down in rest, and none would make you afraid; indeed, many would seek 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 wicked people will fail; they will have no way to flee; their only hope will be a last gasp of life.”