Job 11

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

Then responded Zophar the Naamathite, and said: —

2 “Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?

Should, the multitude of words, not be answered? Or should, a man full of talk, be justified?

3 Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke?

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

4 You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.’

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

5 But if only God would speak and open His lips against you,

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

6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.

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 Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?

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

8 They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know? (Sheol h7585)

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

9 Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

Longer than the earth, is the measure thereof, and broader than the sea.

10 If He comes along to imprison you, or convenes a court, who can stop Him?

If he sweep on, or shut up, or call together, Who then shall hinder him?

11 Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?

For, he, knoweth men of falsity, and seeth iniquity, and him that doth not diligently consider.

12 But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man!

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

13 As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him,

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

14 if you put away the iniquity in your hand, and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents,

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

15 then indeed you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and unafraid.

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

16 For you will forget your misery, recalling it only as waters gone by.

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

17 Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.

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

18 You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety.

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

19 You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor.

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

20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”

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.