Job 11

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

Then answered Zophar the Na'amathite, 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]

Shall a multitude of words not be answered? and is it so that a man full of talk shall be deemed in the right?

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?

Thy inventions are to bring men to silence; and when thou utterest thy mocking no one is to cause thee to feel abashed!

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

For thou hast said [to God], My doctrine is pure, and I am become clean in thy eyes.

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

But oh that God would but speak, and open his lips against thee;

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!

And that he would declare unto thee the secrets of wisdom; for it is double to that which is really in our possession: and thou wouldst experience that God overlooketh unto thee much of thy iniquity.

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?

Canst thou find out the experience of God? or canst thou find [the way] unto the utmost limit 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 as high as heaven; what canst thou effect? it is deeper than the nether world; what canst thou know? (Sheol h7585)

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

Longer than the earth is its measure, and broader 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 he pass by, and surrender [one to suffering], and call together an assembly, who can hinder 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 he knoweth the men of vanity: he seeth the wrong-doer and him who considereth not;

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.

And the heartless who acquireth intelligence, and him who is [like] the colt of the wild ass who is transformed into a man.

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

If thou truly direct [aright] thy heart, and spread out thy hands toward 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 wrong be in thy hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tents.

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].

For then canst thou lift up thy face free from blemish: yea, thou wilt stand steadfast, and needest not to fear;

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

Because thou wilt truly forget thy trouble, and as a waterflood that is passed away wilt thou remember it;

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.

And brighter than the noon of day will thy earthly existence arise; and thy obscurity will be like thy 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].

And thou wilt feel trust, because there is hope: yea, thou wilt search about carefully, and thou wilt lie down 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.

Also thou wilt stretch thyself out [to rest], with none to make thee afraid; and many will entreat thy 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 shall fail, and the means of escape will vanish from them, and their [sole] hope shall be the breathing out of their soul.