Job 11
1 And Zophar the Naamathite answers and says:
Then Zophar the Naamathite began speaking and said,
2 “Is a multitude of words not answered? And is a man of lips justified?
“So many words be answered, shouldn't they? Or is a person proved right by doing a lot of talking?
3 Your boastings make men keep silent, You scorn, and none is causing blushing!
Should all your babbling force people to keep quiet? When you mock, shouldn't someone make you feel ashamed?
4 And you say, My discourse [is] pure, And I have been clean in Your eyes.
You said, ‘What I teach is the pure truth,’ and ‘in God's eyes I am clean.’
5 And yet, O that God had spoken! And opens His lips with you.
If only God would speak up and tell you directly,
6 And declares to you secrets of wisdom, for counsel has foldings. And know that God forgets of your iniquity for you.
because then he would explain to you the secrets of wisdom. True wisdom has many sides to it. God's treatment of you is far better than your guilt deserves.
7 Do you find out God by searching? To perfection find out the Mighty One?
Can you find out the mysteries of God? Can you discover all the wisdom of the Almighty?
It is greater than the heavens—what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol—what can you know? (Sheol h7585)
9 Its measure [is] longer than earth, and broader than the sea.
It extends farther than the earth, and wider than the sea.
10 If He passes on, and shuts up, and assembles, Who then reverses it?
If God comes and imprisons someone, or assembles the court for judgment, who can stop him?
11 For He has known men of vanity, And He sees iniquity, And one does not consider [it]!
For God knows who are deceivers—when he sees someone sin, he pays attention to it.
12 And empty man is bold, And man is born [as] the colt of a wild donkey.
Stupid people will become wise when wild donkeys are born tame!
13 If you have prepared your heart, And have spread out your hands to Him,
But if you repent and spread out your hands to pray to him,
14 If iniquity [is] in your hand, put it far off, And do not let perverseness dwell in your tents.
if you get rid of your sins and don't let wickedness continue in your life,
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 hold your head high in innocence, you will be firm and unafraid.
16 For you forget misery, As waters passed away you remember.
You will forget your misery, remembering it only as water under the bridge.
17 And age rises above the noon, You fly—you are as the morning.
Your life will shine brighter than the noonday sun; even darkness will be like the morning.
18 And you have trusted because there is hope, And searched—in confidence you lie down,
You will have confidence because there is hope; you will be protected and rest in safety.
19 And you have rested, And none is causing trembling, And many have begged [at] your face;
You will lie down to sleep with no one to frighten you, and many will come asking for your favor.
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 wicked will fail, they will not be able to escape, and their only hope is in death.”
