Job 11

1 Then responded Zophar the Naamathite, and said: —

Then Sophar the Naamathite answered, and said:

2 Should, the multitude of words, not be answered? Or 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 Shall, thy pratings, cause men to hold their peace? When thou hast mocked, shall there be none to put thee to shame?

Shall men hold their peace to thee only? and when thou hast mocked others, shall no man confute thee?

4 Since thou hast said, Right is my doctrine, and pure am I in his eyes.

For thou hast said: My word is pure, and I am clean in thy sight.

5 But, in very deed, oh that GOD would speak, that he would open his lips with thee:

And I wish that God would speak with thee, and would open his lips to thee,

6 That he would declare to thee the secrets of wisdom, for they are double to that which actually is, —Know then that GOD could bring into forgetfulness for thee, a portion of thine iniquity.

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 The hidden depth of GOD canst thou discover? Or, unto the furthest limit of the Almighty, canst thou attain?

Peradventure thou wilt comprehend the steps of God, and wilt find out the Almighty perfectly?

8 The heights of the heavens, what canst thou do? Depths deeper than hades, what canst thou know? (Sheol h7585)

He is higher than heaven, and what wilt thou do? he is deeper than hell, and how wilt thou know? (Sheol h7585)

9 Longer than the earth, is the measure thereof, and broader than the sea.

The measure of him is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

10 If he sweep on, or shut up, or call together, Who then shall hinder him?

If he shall overturn all things, or shall press them together, who shall contradict him?

11 For, he, knoweth men of falsity, and seeth iniquity, and him that doth not diligently consider.

For he knoweth the vanity of men, and when he seeth iniquity, doth he not consider it?

12 But, an empty person, will get sense, when, a wild ass’s colt, is born a man!

A vain man is lifted up into pride, and thinketh himself born free like a wild ass’s colt.

13 If, thou, hast prepared thy heart, and wilt spread forth, unto him, thy hands—

Rut thou hast hardened thy heart, and hast spread thy hands to him.

14 If, iniquity, be in thy hand, Put it far away, and let there not dwell in thy tents perversity,

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 free from blemish, and shalt be established, and not fear.

Then mayst thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear.

16 For, now, shalt thou forget, sorrow, Like waters passed away, shalt thou remember it.

Thou shalt also forget misery, and remember it only as waters that are passed away.

17 Above high noon, shall rise life’s continuance, Darkness, like a morning, shall appear,

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 he confident, that there is hope, and, when thou hast searched, securely shalt thou lie down;

And thou shalt have confidence, hope being set before thee, and being buried thou shalt sleep secure.

19 And shalt rest, with none to put thee in terror, —and many shall entreat thy favour.

Thou shalt rest, and there shall be none to make thee afraid: and many shall entreat thy face.

20 But, the eyes of the lawless, shall fail, —and, place of refuge, shall have vanished from them, and, their hope, be a breathing out of life.

But the eyes of the wicked shall decay, and the way to escape shall fail them, and their hope the abomination of the soul.