Job 11

1 Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, 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 you?

Should thy boastings make men hold their peace? And when thou mock, shall no man make thee ashamed?

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

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

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

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

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

and that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know therefore that God exacts of thee less than thine iniquity deserves.

7 Will you find out the traces of the Lord? or have you come to the end [of that] which the Almighty has made?

Can thou find out God by searching? Can thou find out the Almighty to perfection?

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

It is high as heaven; what can thou do? Deeper than Sheol; what can 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 have you done?

If he passes through, and shuts up, and all to judgment, 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 knows false men. He also sees iniquity. 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.

But vain man is void of understanding. Yea, man is born as a wild donkey's colt.

13 For if you have made your heart pure, and lift up [your] hands towards him;

If thou set thy heart aright, and stretch out thy hands toward him,

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

if iniquity is in thy hand, put it far away, and let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents.

15 For thus shall your countenance shine again, as pure water; and you shall dive yourself of uncleanness, and shall not fear.

Surely then thou shall lift up thy face without spot. Yea, thou shall be steadfast, and shall not fear.

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

For thou shall forget thy misery. Thou shall remember it as waters that are passed away.

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

And thy life shall be clearer than the noonday. Though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.

18 And you shall be confident, because you have hope; and peace shall dawn to you from out of anxiety and care.

And thou shall be secure, because there is hope. Yea, thou shall search about thee, and shall take thy rest in safety.

19 For you shall be at ease, and there shall be no one to fight against you; and many shall charge, and make supplication to you.

Also thou shall lie down, and none shall make thee afraid. Yea, many shall correspond with 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 have no way to flee. And their hope shall be the giving up of the spirit.