Job 11
1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
Then Zophar, from [the] Naamah [area], said this to Job:
2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
“(Should no one answer all that you have said?/Someone should certainly answer all that you have said.) [RHQ] Just because you talk a lot, (should that cause us to declare that you (are innocent/have done nothing wrong)?/that should not cause us to declare that you (are innocent/have done nothing wrong).) [RHQ]
3 Should your lies make men hold their peace? and when you mock, shall no man make you ashamed?
Job, (should your babbling cause us to be silent?/your babbling should certainly not cause us to be silent.) [RHQ] When you make fun of us, shall no one [rebuke you and] cause you to be ashamed?
4 For you have said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in your eyes.
You say, ‘What I say is true; God knows that I am (innocent/without guilt).’
5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against you;
But I wish/desire that God would talk and say something [MTY] to answer you!
6 And that he would show you the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.
God knows everything about everything, so I wish/desire that he would tell you the secrets that he knows because he is wise. But you need to know that God is punishing you less than you deserve!
7 Can you by searching find out God? can you find out the Almighty unto perfection?
[“Tell me], will you ever be able to find out the things about God that are very difficult to understand? Will you be able to find out everything that there is to know about Almighty God?
[What there is to know about God] is greater than [the distance from earth to] heaven; so there is no way [RHQ] that you can [understand it all]. It is greater than [the distance from here to] the place of the dead; so it is impossible for you [RHQ] to know it all. (Sheol h7585)
9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
What there is to know about God is wider than the earth and wider than the ocean.
10 If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?
“If God comes to you and puts you in prison and then brings you to a court, (who can stop him?/no one can stop him.) [RHQ]
11 For he knows vain men: he sees wickedness also; will he not then consider it?
He knows which people are worthless; and when he sees people doing wicked things, (will he ignore it?/he will certainly not ignore it!) [RHQ]
12 For vain men would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.
Stupid people [like you] will start to become wise [SAR] when wild donkeys [stop giving birth to wild donkeys and] start giving birth to tame donkeys.
13 If you prepare your heart, and stretch out your hands toward him;
“Job, repent [IDM]; reach out your hands to seek God’s help.
14 If iniquity be in your hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in your tabernacles.
If you have done evil things, stop doing them; and do not allow any people in your house to do wicked things.
15 For then shall you lift up your face without spot; yea, you shall be steadfast, and shall not fear:
If you do what I have said, surely you will lift up your head because you will not be ashamed; you will be strong, and not afraid [of anything].
16 Because you shall forget your misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:
You will forget all your troubles; they will be like [the] water [of a flood] that has all disappeared.
17 And your age shall be clearer than the noonday: you shall shine forth, you shall be as the morning.
[Your troubles will be ended, like the darkness ends] at the dawn; [it will be as though] [MET] the sun is shining brightly on you, like [it shines] at noon.
18 And you shall be secure, because there is hope; yea, you shall dig about you, and you shall take your rest in safety.
You will feel safe/secure, because you will confidently expect [that good things will happen to you]; God will protect you and enable you to rest safely [each night].
19 Also you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto you.
You will lie down, and no one will cause you to be afraid. And many people will come and request you to do things for them.
20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the spirit.
But wicked people [SYN] will not be able to understand [why bad things are happening to them]; they will not have any way to escape [from their troubles]. The only thing that they will want to do is to die. [EUP]”
