Job 11

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

2 “Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?

3 Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke?

4 You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.’

5 But if only God would speak and open His lips against you,

6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.

7 Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?

8 They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

9 Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

10 If He comes along to imprison you, or convenes a court, who can stop Him?

11 Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?

12 But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man!

13 As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him,

14 if you put away the iniquity in your hand, and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents,

15 then indeed you will lift up your face without blemish; you will stand firm and unafraid.

16 For you will forget your misery, recalling it only as waters gone by.

17 Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.

18 You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety.

19 You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor.

20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”

1 ¶ Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

4 For thou hast said, My doctrine [is] pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

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

6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that [they are] double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee [less] than thine iniquity [deserveth].

7 ¶ Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

8 [It is] as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

9 The measure thereof [is] longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

10 If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider [it]?

12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born [like] a wild ass's colt.

13 ¶ If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

14 If iniquity [be] in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

16 Because thou shalt forget [thy] misery, [and] remember [it] as waters [that] pass away:

17 And [thine] age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig [about thee, and] thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make [thee] afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope [shall be as] the giving up of the ghost.

2 If a man speak long, must he not also hear? Must a washer always be right?

3 Shall men be silent unto thy great babblings, that thou mock thee, and that no man put thee to shame?

4 Thou sayest, My speech is pure, and I am loud in thine eyes.

5 Oh that God would speak unto thee, and open his lips unto thee!

6 And shewed the secret wisdom. For he would have more to do for thee, that thou mightest know that he remembereth not all thy sins.

7 Thinkest thou that thou knowest as much as God knoweth, and wilt do all things as perfectly as the Almighty?

8 He is higher than heaven; what wilt thou do? lower than hell; what canst thou know?

9 longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

10 If he turn them back, or make them sure, or cast them into a heap, who shall prevent him?

11 For he knoweth the loose men, he seeth iniquity, and should not know it?

12 A useless man is puffed up: and a man that is born is as a young game.

13 If thou hadst set thy heart, and spread out thy hands unto him;

14 If thou hadst put away from thee the iniquity that is in thine hand, that there should be no iniquity in thy tabernacle,

15 Then wouldst thou lift up thy countenance without reproach, and be steadfast, and fear not.

16 Then shalt thou forget the trouble, and remember it as little as the waters that pass by.

17 And the days of thy life shall rise as the noonday, and the darkness shall become the light of the morning.

18 And thou shalt be comforted in that there is hope; thou shalt enter into the grave with peace.

19 And would lie down, and no man would startle thee; and many would plead before thee.

20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and shall not escape: for their hope shall fail from their soul.