< Job 11 >

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:
And Zophar the Naamathite answereth and saith: —
2 Shall not the multitude of words receive an answer? Shall the man of words be justified?
Is a multitude of words not answered? And is a man of lips justified?
3 Shall thy boastings make men hold their peace? Shalt thou mock, and none put thee to shame?
Thy devices make men keep silent, Thou scornest, and none is causing blushing!
4 Thou sayest, My speech is pure; I am clean in thine eyes, [[O God!]]
And thou sayest, 'Pure [is] my discourse, And clean I have been in Thine eyes.'
5 But O that God would speak, And open his lips against thee;
And yet, O that God had spoken! And doth open His lips with thee.
6 That he would show thee the secrets of his wisdom, —His wisdom, which is unsearchable! Then shouldst thou know that God forgiveth thee many of thine iniquities.
And declare to thee secrets of wisdom, For counsel hath foldings. And know thou that God forgetteth for thee, [Some] of thine iniquity.
7 Canst thou search out the deep things of God? Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection?
By searching dost thou find out God? Unto perfection find out the Mighty One?
8 'Tis high as heaven, what canst thou do? Deeper than hell, what canst thou know? (Sheol h7585)
Heights of the heavens! — what dost thou? Deeper than Sheol! — what knowest thou? (Sheol h7585)
9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, And broader than the sea.
Longer than earth [is] its measure, And broader than the sea.
10 If he apprehend, and bind, and bring to trial, Who shall oppose him?
If He pass on, and shut up, and assemble, Who then dost reverse it?
11 For he knoweth the unrighteous; He seeth iniquity, when they do not observe it.
For he hath known men of vanity, And He seeth iniquity, And one doth not consider [it]!
12 But vain man is without understanding; Yea, man is born a wild ass's colt.
And empty man is bold, And the colt of a wild ass man is born.
13 If thou direct thy heart, And stretch out thy hands, toward him;
If thou — thou hast prepared thy heart, And hast spread out unto Him thy hands,
14 If thou put away iniquity from thy hand, And let not wickedness dwell in thy habitation, —
If iniquity [is] in thy hand, put it far off, And let not perverseness dwell in thy tents.
15 Then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; Yea, thou shalt be steadfast, and have no fear.
For then thou liftest up thy face from blemish, And thou hast been firm, and fearest not.
16 For thou shalt forget thy misery, Or remember it as waters that have passed away.
For thou dost forget misery, As waters passed away thou rememberest.
17 Thy life shall be brighter than the noon-day; Now thou art in darkness, thou shalt then be as morning.
And above the noon doth age rise, Thou fliest — as the morning thou art.
18 Thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; Now thou art disappointed, thou shalt then rest in safety.
And thou hast trusted because their is hope, And searched — in confidence thou liest down,
19 Thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; And many shall make suit unto thee.
And thou hast rested, And none is causing trembling, And many have entreated thy face;
20 But the eyes of the wicked shall be wearied out; They shall find no refuge; Their hope is—the breathing forth of life.
And the eyes of the wicked are consumed, And refuge hath perished from them, And their hope [is] a breathing out of soul!

< Job 11 >