Job 11
1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,
2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
“Should not such a multitude of words be answered? Should this man, so full of talk, be believed?
3 Should thy boastings make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
Should your boasting make others remain silent? When you mock, will no one make you feel ashamed?
4 For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.
For you say to God, 'My beliefs are pure, I am blameless in your eyes.'
5 But Oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
But, oh, that God would speak and open his lips against you;
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 would show you the secrets of wisdom! For he is great in understanding. Know then that God demands from you less than your iniquity deserves.
7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
Can you understand God by searching for him? Can you comprehend the Almighty perfectly?
The matter is as high as heaven; what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol; what can you know? (Sheol h7585)
9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
Its measure is longer than the earth, and wider than the sea.
10 If he pass through, and shut up, and call unto judgment, then who can hinder him?
If he passes through and shuts anyone up, if he calls anyone to judgment, then who can stop him?
11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth iniquity also, even though he consider it not.
For he knows false people; when he sees iniquity, does he not notice it?
12 But vain man is void of understanding, yea, man is born as a wild ass’s colt.
But foolish people have no understanding; they will get it when a wild donkey gives birth to a man.
13 If thou set thine heart aright, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
But suppose that you had set your heart right and had reached out with your hands toward God;
14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents;
suppose that iniquity were in your hand, but that then you put it far away from you, and did not let unrighteousness live in your tents.
15 Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
Then you would certainly lift up your face without a sign of shame; indeed, you would be steadfast and would not fear.
16 For thou shalt forget thy misery; thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away:
You would forget your misery; you would remember it only like waters that have flowed away.
17 And [thy] life shall be clearer than the noonday; though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.
Your life would be brighter than the noonday; though there were darkness, it would become like the morning.
18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt search [about thee], and shalt take thy rest in safety.
You would be secure because there is hope; indeed, you would find safety about you and would take your rest in safety.
19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
Also you would lie down in rest, and none would make you afraid; indeed, many would seek your favor.
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 wicked people will fail; they will have no way to flee; their only hope will be a last gasp of life.”
