Job 11

¹ Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,

² “Shouldn’t the multitude of words be answered? Should a man full of talk be justified?

³ Should your boastings make men hold their peace? When you mock, will no man make you ashamed?

⁴ For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure. I am clean in your eyes.’

⁵ But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against you,

⁶ that he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For true wisdom has two sides. Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.

⁷ “Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

⁸ They are high as heaven. What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol. What can you know?

⁹ Its measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

¹⁰ If he passes by, or confines, or convenes a court, then who can oppose him?

¹¹ For he knows false men. He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn’t consider it.

¹² An empty-headed man becomes wise when a man is born as a wild donkey’s colt.

¹³ “If you set your heart aright, stretch out your hands toward him.

¹⁴ If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away. Don’t let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.

¹⁵ Surely then you will lift up your face without spot. Yes, you will be steadfast, and will not fear,

¹⁶ for you will forget your misery. You will remember it like waters that have passed away.

¹⁷ Life will be clearer than the noonday. Though there is darkness, it will be as the morning.

¹⁸ You will be secure, because there is hope. Yes, you will search, and will take your rest in safety.

¹⁹ Also you will lie down, and no one will make you afraid. Yes, many will court your favor.

²⁰ But the eyes of the wicked will fail. They will have no way to flee. Their hope will be the giving up of the spirit.”

¹ TThen Sophar the Naamathite answered, and said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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