Job 11

1 Then responded Zophar the Naamathite, and said: —

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2 Should, the multitude of words, not be answered? Or should, a man full of talk, be justified?

Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should 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?

Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

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

For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thy eyes.

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

But O that God would speak, and open his lips against 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.

And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thy iniquity deserveth.

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

Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection?

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

It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? (Sheol h7585)

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

The measure of it 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 cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

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

For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

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

For vain man would be wise, though man is born like a wild donkey’s colt.

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

If thou preparest thy heart, and stretchest out thy hands toward him;

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

If iniquity is in thy hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tents.

15 Surely, then, shalt thou lift up thy face free from blemish, and shalt be established, and not fear.

For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear:

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

Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

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

And thy age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

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

And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

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

Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit to thee.

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 fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.