Job 11

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite began speaking and said,

Then responded Zophar the Naamathite, and said: —

2 “So many words be answered, shouldn't they? Or is a person proved right by doing a lot of talking?

Should, the multitude of words, not be answered? Or should, a man full of talk, be justified?

3 Should all your babbling force people to keep quiet? When you mock, shouldn't someone make you feel ashamed?

Shall, thy pratings, cause men to hold their peace? When thou hast mocked, shall there be none to put thee to shame?

4 You said, ‘What I teach is the pure truth,’ and ‘in God's eyes I am clean.’

Since thou hast said, Right is my doctrine, and pure am I in his eyes.

5 If only God would speak up and tell you directly,

But, in very deed, oh that GOD would speak, that he would open his lips with thee:

6 because then he would explain to you the secrets of wisdom. True wisdom has many sides to it. God's treatment of you is far better than your guilt deserves.

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 Can you find out the mysteries of God? Can you discover all the wisdom of the Almighty?

The hidden depth of GOD canst thou discover? Or, unto the furthest limit of the Almighty, canst thou attain?

8 It is greater than the heavens—what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol—what can you know? (Sheol h7585)

The heights of the heavens, what canst thou do? Depths deeper than hades, what canst thou know? (Sheol h7585)

9 It extends farther than the earth, and wider than the sea.

Longer than the earth, is the measure thereof, and broader than the sea.

10 If God comes and imprisons someone, or assembles the court for judgment, who can stop him?

If he sweep on, or shut up, or call together, Who then shall hinder him?

11 For God knows who are deceivers—when he sees someone sin, he pays attention to it.

For, he, knoweth men of falsity, and seeth iniquity, and him that doth not diligently consider.

12 Stupid people will become wise when wild donkeys are born tame!

But, an empty person, will get sense, when, a wild ass’s colt, is born a man!

13 But if you repent and spread out your hands to pray to him,

If, thou, hast prepared thy heart, and wilt spread forth, unto him, thy hands—

14 if you get rid of your sins and don't let wickedness continue in your life,

If, iniquity, be in thy hand, Put it far away, and let there not dwell in thy tents perversity,

15 then you would be able to hold your head high in innocence, you will be firm and unafraid.

Surely, then, shalt thou lift up thy face free from blemish, and shalt be established, and not fear.

16 You will forget your misery, remembering it only as water under the bridge.

For, now, shalt thou forget, sorrow, Like waters passed away, shalt thou remember it.

17 Your life will shine brighter than the noonday sun; even darkness will be like the morning.

Above high noon, shall rise life’s continuance, Darkness, like a morning, shall appear,

18 You will have confidence because there is hope; you will be protected and rest in safety.

And thou shalt he confident, that there is hope, and, when thou hast searched, securely shalt thou lie down;

19 You will lie down to sleep with no one to frighten you, and many will come asking for your favor.

And shalt rest, with none to put thee in terror, —and many shall entreat thy favour.

20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail, they will not be able to escape, and their only hope is in death.”

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.