Job 11
1 And Zophar the Naamathite answers and says:
But Zophar the Naamathite, responding, said:
2 “Is a multitude of words not answered? And is a man of lips justified?
Will he who speaks much, not also listen? Or will a talkative man be justified?
3 Your boastings make men keep silent, You scorn, and none is causing blushing!
Will men be silent only for you? And when you have mocked others, will no one refute you?
4 And you say, My discourse [is] pure, And I have been clean in Your eyes.
For you said: “My word is pure, and I am clean in your sight.”
5 And yet, O that God had spoken! And opens His lips with you.
Yet I wish that God would speak with you, and would open his lips to you,
6 And declares to you secrets of wisdom, for counsel has foldings. And know that God forgets of your iniquity for you.
so that he might reveal to you the secrets of wisdom, and how intricate his law is, and that you would understand how much less he requires of you than your iniquity deserves.
7 Do you find out God by searching? To perfection find out the Mighty One?
By chance, will you comprehend the footsteps of God and reach all the way to the perfection of the Almighty?
He is higher than heaven, and what will you do? He is deeper than hell, but how will you know? (Sheol h7585)
9 Its measure [is] longer than earth, and broader than the sea.
His measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
10 If He passes on, and shuts up, and assembles, Who then reverses it?
If he overturns all things, or packs them together, who will contradict him?
11 For He has known men of vanity, And He sees iniquity, And one does not consider [it]!
For he knows the vanity of men, and when he sees iniquity, does he not evaluate it?
12 And empty man is bold, And man is born [as] the colt of a wild donkey.
A vain man is lifted up in arrogance, and he thinks that he is born free like a wild ass’s colt.
13 If you have prepared your heart, And have spread out your hands to Him,
But you have fortified your heart and extended your hands to him.
14 If iniquity [is] in your hand, put it far off, And do not let perverseness dwell in your tents.
If you would send away from you the iniquity that is in your hand, and not let injustice remain in your tabernacle,
15 For then you lift up your face from blemish, And you have been firm, and do not fear.
then you would be able to lift up your face without blemish, and you would be steadfast and unafraid.
16 For you forget misery, As waters passed away you remember.
Misery, likewise, you would forget, or would remember only like waters that have passed by.
17 And age rises above the noon, You fly—you are as the morning.
And brightness, like that of midday, will rise upon you until evening, and when you would think yourself consumed, you will rise up like the morning star.
18 And you have trusted because there is hope, And searched—in confidence you lie down,
And, when hope has been set before you, you will have faith, and, when buried, you will sleep secure.
19 And you have rested, And none is causing trembling, And many have begged [at] your face;
You will rest, and there will be nothing to make you afraid, and many will make requests before your face.
20 And the eyes of the wicked are consumed, And refuge has perished from them, And their hope [is] a breathing out of soul!”
But the eyes of the impious will fade away, and the path to escape will perish before them, for the abomination of the soul is their hope.
