Job 11

1 Then Sophar the Naamathite answered, and said:

Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

2 Shall not he that speaketh much, hear also? or shall a man full of talk be justified?

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.

3 Shall men hold their peace to thee only? and when thou hast mocked others, shall no man confute thee?

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

4 For thou hast said: My word is pure, and I am clean in thy sight.

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

5 And I wish that God would speak with thee, and would open his lips to thee,

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

6 That he might shew thee the secrets of wisdom, and that his law is manifold, and thou mightest understand that he exacteth much less of thee, than thy iniquity deserveth.

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.

7 Peradventure thou wilt comprehend the steps of God, and wilt find out the Almighty perfectly?

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

8 He is higher than heaven, and what wilt thou do? he is deeper than hell, and how wilt thou know? (Sheol h7585)

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

9 The measure of him is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

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

10 If he shall overturn all things, or shall press them together, who shall contradict him?

And if he should overthrow all things, who will say to him, What have you done?

11 For he knoweth the vanity of men, and when he seeth iniquity, doth he not consider it?

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

12 A vain man is lifted up into pride, and thinketh himself born free like a wild ass’s colt.

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

13 Rut thou hast hardened thy heart, and hast spread thy hands to him.

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

14 If thou wilt put away from thee the iniquity that is in thy hand, and lot not injustice remain in thy tabernacle:

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

15 Then mayst thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear.

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

16 Thou shalt also forget misery, and remember it only as waters that are passed away.

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

17 And brightness like that of the noonday, shall arise to thee at evening: and when thou shalt think thyself consumed, thou shalt rise as the day star.

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

18 And thou shalt have confidence, hope being set before thee, and being buried thou shalt sleep secure.

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

19 Thou shalt rest, and there shall be none to make thee afraid: and many shall entreat thy face.

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.

20 But the eyes of the wicked shall decay, and the way to escape shall fail them, and their hope the abomination of the soul.

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