Job 11

1 Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,

Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

2 “Should not the multitude of words be answered? 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 your boastings make men hold their peace? When you mock, will no man make you ashamed?

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

4 For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure. I am clean in your 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 you,

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

6 that he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For true wisdom has two sides. Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.

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

7 “Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

Wilt thou find out the traces of the Lord? or hast thou come to the end [of that] which the Almighty has made?

8 They are high as heaven. What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol (Sheol h7585). What can you know?

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

9 Its measure 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 passes by, or confines, or convenes a court, then who can oppose him?

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

11 For he knows false men. He sees iniquity also, even though he does not consider it.

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

12 An empty-headed man becomes wise when a man is born as a wild donkey’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 you set your heart aright, stretch out your hands toward him.

For if thou hast made thine heart pure, and liftest up [thine] hands towards him;

14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away. Do not let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.

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

15 Surely then you will lift up your face without spot. Yes, you will be steadfast, and will not fear,

For thus shall thy countenance shine again, as pure water; and thou shalt divest thyself of uncleanness, and shalt not fear.

16 for you will forget your misery. You will remember it like waters that have passed away.

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

17 Life will be clearer than the noonday. Though there is darkness, it will be as the morning.

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

18 You will be secure, because there is hope. Yes, you will search, and will take your rest in safety.

And thou shalt be confident, because thou hast hope; and peace shall dawn to thee from out of anxiety and care.

19 Also you will lie down, and no one will make you afraid. Yes, many will court your favor.

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

20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail. They will have no way to flee. Their hope will be the giving up of the spirit.”

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