Job 11

1 Then answered Zophar the Na'amathite, and said.

Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

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

“Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?

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

Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke?

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

You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.’

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

But if only God would speak and open His lips against you,

6 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.

and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.

7 Canst thou find out the experience of God? or canst thou find [the way] unto the utmost limit of the Almighty?

Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?

8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou effect? it is deeper than the nether world; what canst thou know? (Sheol h7585)

They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know? (Sheol h7585)

9 Longer than the earth is its measure, and broader than the sea.

Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

10 If he pass by, and surrender [one to suffering], and call together an assembly, who can hinder him?

If He comes along to imprison you, or convenes a court, who can stop Him?

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

Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?

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

But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man!

13 If thou truly direct [aright] thy heart, and spread out thy hands toward him: —

As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him,

14 If wrong be in thy hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tents.

if you put away the iniquity in your hand, and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents,

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

then indeed you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and unafraid.

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

For you will forget your misery, recalling it only as waters gone by.

17 And brighter than the noon of day will thy earthly existence arise; and thy obscurity will be like thy morning.

Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.

18 And thou wilt feel trust, because there is hope: yea, thou wilt search about carefully, and thou wilt lie down in safety.

You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety.

19 Also thou wilt stretch thyself out [to rest], with none to make thee afraid; and many will entreat thy favor.

You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor.

20 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.

But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”