Job 11
1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
Then Sophar the Naamathite answered, and said:
2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
Shall not he that speaketh much, hear also? or shall a man full of talk be justified?
3 Should thy boastings make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
Shall men hold their peace to thee only? and when thou hast mocked others, shall no man confute thee?
4 For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.
For thou hast said: My word is pure, and I am clean in thy sight.
5 But Oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
And I wish that God would speak with thee, and would open his lips to thee,
6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that is manifold in effectual working! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
That he might shew thee the secrets of wisdom, and that his law is manifold, and thou mightest understand that he exacteth much less of thee, than thy iniquity deserveth.
7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
Peradventure thou wilt comprehend the steps of God, and wilt find out the Almighty perfectly?
He is higher than heaven, and what wilt thou do? he is deeper than hell, and how wilt thou know? (Sheol h7585)
9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
The measure of him is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
10 If he pass through, and shut up, and call unto judgment, then who can hinder him?
If he shall overturn all things, or shall press them together, who shall contradict him?
11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth iniquity also, even though he consider it not.
For he knoweth the vanity of men, and when he seeth iniquity, doth he not consider it?
12 But vain man is void of understanding, yea, man is born as a wild ass’s colt.
A vain man is lifted up into pride, and thinketh himself born free like a wild ass’s colt.
13 If thou set thine heart aright, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
Rut thou hast hardened thy heart, and hast spread thy hands to him.
14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents;
If thou wilt put away from thee the iniquity that is in thy hand, and lot not injustice remain in thy tabernacle:
15 Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
Then mayst thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear.
16 For thou shalt forget thy misery; thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away:
Thou shalt also forget misery, and remember it only as waters that are passed away.
17 And [thy] life shall be clearer than the noonday; though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.
And brightness like that of the noonday, shall arise to thee at evening: and when thou shalt think thyself consumed, thou shalt rise as the day star.
18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt search [about thee], and shalt take thy rest in safety.
And thou shalt have confidence, hope being set before thee, and being buried thou shalt sleep secure.
19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
Thou shalt rest, and there shall be none to make thee afraid: and many shall entreat thy face.
20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall have no way to flee, and their hope shall be the giving up of the ghost.
But the eyes of the wicked shall decay, and the way to escape shall fail them, and their hope the abomination of the soul.
