Job 11
English Standard Version
Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse
11 Then (A)Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
2 “Should (B)a multitude of words go unanswered,
and a man full of talk be judged right?
3 Should your babble silence men,
and when you mock, shall no one shame you?
4 For (C)you say, ‘My (D)doctrine is pure,
and I am clean in God's[a] eyes.’
5 But oh, that God would speak
and open his lips to you,
6 and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!
For he is manifold in (E)understanding.[b]
Know then that God (F)exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.
7 (G)“Can you find out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
8 It is (H)higher than heaven[c]—what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
9 Its measure is longer than the earth
and broader than the sea.
10 If he (I)passes through and (J)imprisons
and summons the court, who can (K)turn him back?
11 For he knows (L)worthless men;
when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?
12 But a stupid man will get understanding
when (M)a wild donkey's colt is (N)born a man!
13 “If you (O)prepare your heart,
you will (P)stretch out your hands toward him.
14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
and let not injustice dwell in your tents.
15 Surely then you will (Q)lift up your face without (R)blemish;
you will be secure and will not fear.
16 You will (S)forget your misery;
you will remember it as waters that have passed away.
17 And your life will be (T)brighter than the noonday;
its darkness will be like the morning.
18 And you will feel secure, because there is hope;
you will look around and (U)take your rest in security.
19 You will (V)lie down, and none will make you afraid;
many will (W)court your favor.
20 But (X)the eyes of the wicked will fail;
all way of escape will be lost to them,
and their hope is (Y)to breathe their last.”
Job 11
International Standard Version
Zophar Accuses Job
11 Zophar from Naamath had this to say:
2 “Shouldn’t a multitude of words be answered,
or a person who talks too much[a] be vindicated?
3 Will your irrational babble silence people,
and when you mock them,
will you escape without being shamed?[b]
4 You’ve said, ‘My teaching is flawless;
I’m clean[c] in God’s[d] sight.’
5 “But what if God were to speak?
What if he were[e] to talk[f] with you,
6 and disclose his wise secrets?
After all, there’s so much more[g] to understanding.
So be aware that God will exact from you
less than your sin deserves.”
God’s Wisdom is Unfathomable
7 “Can you search through God’s complex things?
Can you uncover the limits of the Almighty?
8 These things are higher than the heavens,
so what can you do?
They are deeper than Sheol,[h]
so what can you know?
9 They are longer than the earth’s circumference,[i]
and broader than the ocean.
10 “If he bypasses, or imprisons, or convenes a court,[j]
who can stop[k] him?
11 For he knows mankind’s[l] deceitfulness;
when he sees iniquity, won’t he himself consider it?
12 An empty-headed person will gain understanding
when a wild donkey is born a human being!”
Zophar Counsels Job to Repent
13 “Now for you, if you will prepare your heart,
spread out your hands to him.
14 If you have any iniquity, throw it far away.
Don’t let evil[m] live in your residence.[n]
15 Then your confidence will be flawless,
and your security will keep you from terror.
16 You’ll forget your suffering;
you’ll remember it like water that has evaporated.[o]
17 Your life will be brighter than noonday.
Even its darkness will be like dawn.
18 You’ll be secure, because there is hope;
you’ll see that you’re at rest and safe.
19 When you sleep, there’ll be nothing to fear;
and many will court your favor.[p]
20 But what the wicked look for will fail;
their way of escape will be taken away[q] from them;
their only hope is to take their final breath.”[r]
Footnotes
- Job 11:2 Or a talker
- Job 11:3 MT has without being humiliated
- Job 11:4 Or pure
- Job 11:4 Lit. your
- Job 11:5 The Heb. lacks What if he were
- Job 11:5 Lit. open his lips against
- Job 11:6 Lit. double
- Job 11:8 I.e. the place where the dead are in the afterlife
- Job 11:9 Lit. measure
- Job 11:10 The Heb. lacks a court
- Job 11:10 Or repel
- Job 11:11 Lit. men
- Job 11:14 Or wrong
- Job 11:14 Lit. tents
- Job 11:16 Or has flowed past
- Job 11:19 Lit. face
- Job 11:20 Lit. destroyed
- Job 11:20 Lit. is to breathe out their soul
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
