Job 11

1 Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6 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.

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].

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

19 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.

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

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

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