Job 11

1 Then Sophar the Naamathite answered, and said:

And Zophar the Naamathite answereth and saith: —

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

Is a multitude of words not answered? And is a man of lips justified?

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

Thy devices make men keep silent, Thou scornest, and none is causing blushing!

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

And thou sayest, 'Pure [is] my discourse, And clean I have been in Thine eyes.'

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

And yet, O that God had spoken! And doth open His lips with thee.

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.

And declare to thee secrets of wisdom, For counsel hath foldings. And know thou that God forgetteth for thee, [Some] of thine iniquity.

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

By searching dost thou find out God? Unto perfection find out the Mighty One?

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

Heights of the heavens! — what dost thou? Deeper than Sheol! — what knowest thou? (Sheol h7585)

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

Longer than earth [is] its measure, And broader than the sea.

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

If He pass on, and shut up, and assemble, Who then dost reverse it?

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

For he hath known men of vanity, And He seeth iniquity, And one doth not consider [it]!

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

And empty man is bold, And the colt of a wild ass man is born.

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

If thou — thou hast prepared thy heart, And hast spread out unto Him thy hands,

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

If iniquity [is] in thy hand, put it far off, And let not perverseness dwell in thy tents.

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

For then thou liftest up thy face from blemish, And thou hast been firm, and fearest not.

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

For thou dost forget misery, As waters passed away thou rememberest.

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 above the noon doth age rise, Thou fliest — as the morning thou art.

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

And thou hast trusted because their is hope, And searched — in confidence thou liest down,

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

And thou hast rested, And none is causing trembling, And many have entreated thy face;

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.

And the eyes of the wicked are consumed, And refuge hath perished from them, And their hope [is] a breathing out of soul!