Job 11

1 Then Zophar, from [the] Naamah [area], said this to Job:

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, and said,

2 “(Should no one answer all that you have said?/Someone should certainly answer all that you have said.) [RHQ] Just because you talk a lot, (should that cause us to declare that you (are innocent/have done nothing wrong)?/that should not cause us to declare that you (are innocent/have done nothing wrong).) [RHQ]

Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be justified?

3 Job, (should your babbling cause us to be silent?/your babbling should certainly not cause us to be silent.) [RHQ] When you make fun of us, shall no one [rebuke you and] cause you to be ashamed?

Should thy boastings make men hold their peace? And when thou mock, shall no man make thee ashamed?

4 You say, ‘What I say is true; God knows that I am (innocent/without guilt).’

For thou say, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

5 But I wish/desire that God would talk and say something [MTY] to answer you!

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

6 God knows everything about everything, so I wish/desire that he would tell you the secrets that he knows because he is wise. But you need to know that God is punishing you less than you deserve!

and that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know therefore that God exacts of thee less than thine iniquity deserves.

7 [“Tell me], will you ever be able to find out the things about God that are very difficult to understand? Will you be able to find out everything that there is to know about Almighty God?

Can thou find out God by searching? Can thou find out the Almighty to perfection?

8 [What there is to know about God] is greater than [the distance from earth to] heaven; so there is no way [RHQ] that you can [understand it all]. It is greater than [the distance from here to] the place of the dead; so it is impossible for you [RHQ] to know it all. (Sheol h7585)

It is high as heaven; what can thou do? Deeper than Sheol; what can thou know? (Sheol h7585)

9 What there is to know about God is wider than the earth and wider than the ocean.

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

10 “If God comes to you and puts you in prison and then brings you to a court, (who can stop him?/no one can stop him.) [RHQ]

If he passes through, and shuts up, and all to judgment, then who can hinder him?

11 He knows which people are worthless; and when he sees people doing wicked things, (will he ignore it?/he will certainly not ignore it!) [RHQ]

For he knows false men. He also sees iniquity. Will he not then consider it?

12 Stupid people [like you] will start to become wise [SAR] when wild donkeys [stop giving birth to wild donkeys and] start giving birth to tame donkeys.

But vain man is void of understanding. Yea, man is born as a wild donkey's colt.

13 “Job, repent [IDM]; reach out your hands to seek God’s help.

If thou set thy heart aright, and stretch out thy hands toward him,

14 If you have done evil things, stop doing them; and do not allow any people in your house to do wicked things.

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

15 If you do what I have said, surely you will lift up your head because you will not be ashamed; you will be strong, and not afraid [of anything].

Surely then thou shall lift up thy face without spot. Yea, thou shall be steadfast, and shall not fear.

16 You will forget all your troubles; they will be like [the] water [of a flood] that has all disappeared.

For thou shall forget thy misery. Thou shall remember it as waters that are passed away.

17 [Your troubles will be ended, like the darkness ends] at the dawn; [it will be as though] [MET] the sun is shining brightly on you, like [it shines] at noon.

And thy life shall be clearer than the noonday. Though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.

18 You will feel safe/secure, because you will confidently expect [that good things will happen to you]; God will protect you and enable you to rest safely [each night].

And thou shall be secure, because there is hope. Yea, thou shall search about thee, and shall take thy rest in safety.

19 You will lie down, and no one will cause you to be afraid. And many people will come and request you to do things for them.

Also thou shall lie down, and none shall make thee afraid. Yea, many shall correspond with thee.

20 But wicked people [SYN] will not be able to understand [why bad things are happening to them]; they will not have any way to escape [from their troubles]. The only thing that they will want to do is to die. [EUP]”

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 spirit.