Job 11

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

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

He that speaks much, should also hear on the other side: or does the fluent speaker think himself to be righteous? blessed [is] the short lived offspring of woman.

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

Be not a speaker of many words; for is there none to answer you?

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

For say not, I am pure in my works, and blameless before him.

5 But Oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

But oh that the Lord would speak to you, and open his lips to you!

6 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].

Then shall he declare to you the power of wisdom; for it shall be double of that which is with you: and then shall you know, that a just recompence of your sins has come to you from the Lord.

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

Will you find out the traces of the Lord? or have you come to the end [of that] which the Almighty has made?

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

Heaven [is] high; and what will you do? and there are deeper things than those in hell; what do you know? (Sheol h7585)

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

Or longer than the measure of the earth, or the breadth of the sea.

10 If he shall cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

And if he should overthrow all things, who will say to him, What have you done?

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

For he knows the works of transgressors; and when he sees wickedness, he will not overlook [it].

12 For vain man would be wise, though man is born [like] a wild ass's colt.

But man vainly buoys himself up with words; and a mortal born of woman [is] like an ass in the desert.

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

For if you have made your heart pure, and lift up [your] hands towards him;

14 If iniquity [is] in thy hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

if there is any iniquity in your hands, put if far from you, and let not unrighteousness lodge in your habitation.

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

For thus shall your countenance shine again, as pure water; and you shall dive yourself of uncleanness, and shall not fear.

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

And you shall forget trouble, as a wave that has passed by; and you shall not be scared.

17 And [thy] age shall be clearer than the noon-day: thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

And your prayer [shall be] as the morning star, and life shall arise to you [as] from the noonday.

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

And you shall be confident, because you have hope; and peace shall dawn to you from out of anxiety and care.

19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make [thee] afraid; yes, many shall make suit to thee.

For you shall be at ease, and there shall be no one to fight against you; and many shall charge, and make supplication to you.

20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope [shall be as] the expiration of the breath.

But safety shall fail them; for their hope is destruction, and the eyes of the ungodly shall waste away.