Job 11

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

Then responded 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, the multitude of words, not be answered? Or 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?

Shall, thy pratings, cause men to hold their peace? When thou hast mocked, shall there be none to put thee to shame?

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

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

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

But, in very deed, oh that GOD would speak, that he would open his lips with 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!

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.

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?

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

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)

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

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

Longer than the earth, is the measure thereof, 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 sweep on, or shut up, or call together, Who then shall 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 men of falsity, and seeth iniquity, and him that doth not diligently consider.

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

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

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

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 thy hand, Put it far away, and let there not dwell in thy tents perversity,

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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