Job 11
1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
But Zophar the Naamathite, responding, said:
2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
Will he who speaks much, not also listen? Or will a talkative man be justified?
3 Should thy boastings make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
Will men be silent only for you? And when you have mocked others, will no one refute you?
4 For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.
For you said: “My word is pure, and I am clean in your sight.”
5 But Oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
Yet I wish that God would speak with you, and would open his lips to you,
6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that is manifold in effectual working! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
so that he might reveal to you the secrets of wisdom, and how intricate his law is, and that you would understand how much less he requires of you than your iniquity deserves.
7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
By chance, will you comprehend the footsteps of God and reach all the way to the perfection of the Almighty?
He is higher than heaven, and what will you do? He is deeper than hell, but how will you know? (Sheol h7585)
9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
His measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
10 If he pass through, and shut up, and call unto judgment, then who can hinder him?
If he overturns all things, or packs them together, who will contradict him?
11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth iniquity also, even though he consider it not.
For he knows the vanity of men, and when he sees iniquity, does he not evaluate it?
12 But vain man is void of understanding, yea, man is born as a wild ass’s colt.
A vain man is lifted up in arrogance, and he thinks that he is born free like a wild ass’s colt.
13 If thou set thine heart aright, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
But you have fortified your heart and extended your hands to him.
14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents;
If you would send away from you the iniquity that is in your hand, and not let injustice remain in your tabernacle,
15 Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
then you would be able to lift up your face without blemish, and you would be steadfast and unafraid.
16 For thou shalt forget thy misery; thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away:
Misery, likewise, you would forget, or would remember only like waters that have passed by.
17 And [thy] life shall be clearer than the noonday; though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.
And brightness, like that of midday, will rise upon you until evening, and when you would think yourself consumed, you will rise up like the morning star.
18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt search [about thee], and shalt take thy rest in safety.
And, when hope has been set before you, you will have faith, and, when buried, you will sleep secure.
19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
You will rest, and there will be nothing to make you afraid, and many will make requests before your face.
20 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 ghost.
But the eyes of the impious will fade away, and the path to escape will perish before them, for the abomination of the soul is their hope.
