< Job 11 >

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
Then responded Zophar the Naamathite, and said: —
2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
Should, the multitude of words, not be answered? Or should, a man full of talk, be justified?
3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
Shall, thy pratings, cause men to hold their peace? When thou hast mocked, shall there be none to put thee to shame?
4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.
Since thou hast said, Right is my doctrine, and pure am I in his eyes.
5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
But, in very deed, oh that GOD would speak, that he would open his lips with thee:
6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
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 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
The hidden depth of GOD canst thou discover? Or, unto the furthest limit of the Almighty, canst thou attain?
8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? (Sheol h7585)
The heights of the heavens, what canst thou do? Depths deeper than hades, what canst thou know? (Sheol h7585)
9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
Longer than the earth, is the measure thereof, and broader than the sea.
10 If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?
If he sweep on, or shut up, or call together, Who then shall hinder him?
11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?
For, he, knoweth men of falsity, and seeth iniquity, and him that doth not diligently consider.
12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild donkey’s colt.
But, an empty person, will get sense, when, a wild ass’s colt, is born a man!
13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
If, thou, hast prepared thy heart, and wilt spread forth, unto him, thy hands—
14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
If, iniquity, be in thy hand, Put it far away, and let there not dwell in thy tents perversity,
15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
Surely, then, shalt thou lift up thy face free from blemish, and shalt be established, and not fear.
16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:
For, now, shalt thou forget, sorrow, Like waters passed away, shalt thou remember it.
17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
Above high noon, shall rise life’s continuance, Darkness, like a morning, shall appear,
18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
And thou shalt he confident, that there is hope, and, when thou hast searched, securely shalt thou lie down;
19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
And shalt rest, with none to put thee in terror, —and many shall entreat thy favour.
20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.
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.

< Job 11 >