Job 11

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

THEN answered Zophar the Naamathite, 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 lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

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

For thou hast said, 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 oh 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 shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

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?

Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto 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 as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? (Sheol h7585)

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

The measure thereof 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 cut off, and shut up, or gather together, 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 knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; 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.

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

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

If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine 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 be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

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].

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

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

Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass 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 thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt 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 shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt 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 shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto 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 not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.