Job 11

1 Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,

And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

2 “Shouldn’t the multitude of words be answered? Should a man full of talk be justified?

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

3 Should your boastings make men hold their peace? When you mock, will no man make you ashamed?

Should thy fictions make men hold their peace? and shouldest thou mock, and no one make [thee] ashamed?

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

For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against you,

But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against 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.

And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, how that they are the double of what is realised; and know that God passeth by [much] of thine iniquity!

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

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

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

[It is as] the heights of heaven; what wilt thou do? deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know? (Sheol h7585)

9 Its measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

10 If he passes by, or confines, or convenes a court, then who can oppose him?

If he pass by, and shut up, and call to judgment, who can hinder him?

11 For he knows false men. He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn’t consider it.

For he knoweth vain men, and seeth wickedness when [man] doth not consider it;

12 An empty-headed man becomes wise when a man is born as a wild donkey’s colt.

Yet a senseless man will make bold, though man be born [like] the foal of a wild ass.

13 “If you set your heart aright, stretch out your hands toward him.

If thou prepare thy heart and stretch out thy hands toward him,

14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away. Don’t let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.

If thou put far away the iniquity which is in thy hand, and let not wrong dwell in thy tents;

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

Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shalt be stedfast and shalt not fear:

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

For thou shalt forget misery; as waters that are passed away shalt thou remember it;

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

And life shall arise brighter than noonday; though thou be enshrouded in darkness, thou shalt be as the morning,

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

And thou shalt have confidence, because there shall be hope; and having searched about [thee], thou shalt take rest in safety.

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

Yea, thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; and many shall seek thy favour.

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 the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and [all] refuge shall vanish from them, and their hope [shall be] the breathing out of life.