Job 11

1 Then Zophar, from [the] Naamah [area], said this to Job:

Then Zophar the Naamathite began speaking and said,

2 “(Should no one answer all that you have said?/Someone should certainly answer all that you have said.) [RHQ] Just because you talk a lot, (should that cause us to declare that you (are innocent/have done nothing wrong)?/that should not cause us to declare that you (are innocent/have done nothing wrong).) [RHQ]

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

3 Job, (should your babbling cause us to be silent?/your babbling should certainly not cause us to be silent.) [RHQ] When you make fun of us, shall no one [rebuke you and] cause you to be ashamed?

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

4 You say, ‘What I say is true; God knows that I am (innocent/without guilt).’

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

5 But I wish/desire that God would talk and say something [MTY] to answer you!

If only God would speak up and tell you directly,

6 God knows everything about everything, so I wish/desire that he would tell you the secrets that he knows because he is wise. But you need to know that God is punishing you less than you deserve!

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.

7 [“Tell me], will you ever be able to find out the things about God that are very difficult to understand? Will you be able to find out everything that there is to know about Almighty God?

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

8 [What there is to know about God] is greater than [the distance from earth to] heaven; so there is no way [RHQ] that you can [understand it all]. It is greater than [the distance from here to] the place of the dead; so it is impossible for you [RHQ] to know it all. (Sheol h7585)

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

9 What there is to know about God is wider than the earth and wider than the ocean.

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

10 “If God comes to you and puts you in prison and then brings you to a court, (who can stop him?/no one can stop him.) [RHQ]

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

11 He knows which people are worthless; and when he sees people doing wicked things, (will he ignore it?/he will certainly not ignore it!) [RHQ]

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

12 Stupid people [like you] will start to become wise [SAR] when wild donkeys [stop giving birth to wild donkeys and] start giving birth to tame donkeys.

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

13 “Job, repent [IDM]; reach out your hands to seek God’s help.

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

14 If you have done evil things, stop doing them; and do not allow any people in your house to do wicked things.

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

15 If you do what I have said, surely you will lift up your head because you will not be ashamed; you will be strong, and not afraid [of anything].

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

16 You will forget all your troubles; they will be like [the] water [of a flood] that has all disappeared.

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

17 [Your troubles will be ended, like the darkness ends] at the dawn; [it will be as though] [MET] the sun is shining brightly on you, like [it shines] at noon.

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

18 You will feel safe/secure, because you will confidently expect [that good things will happen to you]; God will protect you and enable you to rest safely [each night].

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

19 You will lie down, and no one will cause you to be afraid. And many people will come and request you to do things for them.

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

20 But wicked people [SYN] will not be able to understand [why bad things are happening to them]; they will not have any way to escape [from their troubles]. The only thing that they will want to do is to die. [EUP]”

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