Job 11
1 Respondens autem Sophar Naamathites, dixit:
Then Zophar the Naamathite began speaking and said,
2 Numquid qui multa loquitur, non et audiet? aut vir verbosus justificabitur?
“So many words be answered, shouldn't they? Or is a person proved right by doing a lot of talking?
3 Tibi soli tacebunt homines? et cum ceteros irriseris, a nullo confutaberis?
Should all your babbling force people to keep quiet? When you mock, shouldn't someone make you feel ashamed?
4 Dixisti enim: Purus est sermo meus, et mundus sum in conspectu tuo.
You said, ‘What I teach is the pure truth,’ and ‘in God's eyes I am clean.’
5 Atque utinam Deus loqueretur tecum, et aperiret labia sua tibi,
If only God would speak up and tell you directly,
6 ut ostenderet tibi secreta sapientiæ, et quod multiplex esset lex ejus: et intelligeres quod multo minora exigaris ab eo quam meretur iniquitas tua!
because then he would explain to you the secrets of wisdom. True wisdom has many sides to it. God's treatment of you is far better than your guilt deserves.
7 Forsitan vestigia Dei comprehendes, et usque ad perfectum Omnipotentem reperies?
Can you find out the mysteries of God? Can you discover all the wisdom of the Almighty?
It is greater than the heavens—what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol—what can you know? (Sheol h7585)
9 Longior terra mensura ejus, et latior mari.
It extends farther than the earth, and wider than the sea.
10 Si subverterit omnia, vel in unum coarctaverit, quis contradicet ei?
If God comes and imprisons someone, or assembles the court for judgment, who can stop him?
11 Ipse enim novit hominum vanitatem; et videns iniquitatem, nonne considerat?
For God knows who are deceivers—when he sees someone sin, he pays attention to it.
12 Vir vanus in superbiam erigitur, et tamquam pullum onagri se liberum natum putat.
Stupid people will become wise when wild donkeys are born tame!
13 Tu autem firmasti cor tuum, et expandisti ad eum manus tuas.
But if you repent and spread out your hands to pray to him,
14 Si iniquitatem quæ est in manu tua abstuleris a te, et non manserit in tabernaculo tuo injustitia,
if you get rid of your sins and don't let wickedness continue in your life,
15 tunc levare poteris faciem tuam absque macula; et eris stabilis, et non timebis.
then you would be able to hold your head high in innocence, you will be firm and unafraid.
16 Miseriæ quoque oblivisceris, et quasi aquarum quæ præterierunt recordaberis.
You will forget your misery, remembering it only as water under the bridge.
17 Et quasi meridianus fulgor consurget tibi ad vesperam; et cum te consumptum putaveris, orieris ut lucifer.
Your life will shine brighter than the noonday sun; even darkness will be like the morning.
18 Et habebis fiduciam, proposita tibi spe: et defossus securus dormies.
You will have confidence because there is hope; you will be protected and rest in safety.
19 Requiesces, et non erit qui te exterreat; et deprecabuntur faciem tuam plurimi.
You will lie down to sleep with no one to frighten you, and many will come asking for your favor.
20 Oculi autem impiorum deficient, et effugium peribit ab eis: et spes illorum abominatio animæ.
But the eyes of the wicked will fail, they will not be able to escape, and their only hope is in death.”
