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11 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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 men 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.

Zophar Speaks

11 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

Should this stream of words(A) go unanswered
and such a talker[a] be acquitted?
Should your babbling put others to silence,
so that you can keep on ridiculing
with no one to humiliate you?
You have said, “My teaching(B) is sound,
and I am pure in Your sight.”
But if only God would speak
and declare His case[b] against you,
He would show you the secrets of wisdom,(C)
for true wisdom has two sides.
Know then that God has chosen to overlook some of your sin.(D)

Can you fathom the depths of God
or discover the limits of the Almighty?(E)
They are higher than the heavens—what can you do?
They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?(F)
Their measure is longer than the earth
and wider than the sea.

10 If He passes by and throws someone in prison
or convenes a court, who can stop Him?(G)
11 Surely He knows which people are worthless.
If He sees iniquity, will He not take note of it?(H)
12 But a stupid man will gain understanding
as soon as a wild donkey is born a man!

13 As for you, if you redirect your heart
and lift up your hands to Him in prayer—
14 if there is iniquity in your hand, remove it,
and don’t allow injustice to dwell in your tents—
15 then you will hold your head high, free from fault.
You will be firmly established and unafraid.(I)
16 For you will forget your suffering,
recalling it only as waters that have flowed by.
17 Your life will be brighter than noonday;
its darkness[c] will be like the morning.(J)
18 You will be confident, because there is hope.(K)
You will look carefully about and lie down in safety.(L)

19 You will lie down without fear,
and many will seek your favor.(M)
20 But the sight of the wicked(N) will fail.
Their way of escape will be cut off,
and their only hope is their last breath.(O)

Footnotes

  1. Job 11:2 Lit a man of lips
  2. Job 11:5 Lit and open His lips
  3. Job 11:17 Text emended; MT reads noonday; you are dark, you

11 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

Should not the multitude of words be answered?
And should a man full of talk be justified?
Should thy boastings make men hold their peace?
And when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure,
And I am clean in thine eyes.
But oh that God would speak,
And open his lips against thee,
And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom!
For he is manifold in understanding.
Know therefore that God [a]exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

[b]Canst thou by searching find out God?
Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
[c]It is high as heaven; what canst thou do?
Deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?
The measure thereof is longer than the earth,
And broader than the sea.
10 If he pass through, and shut up,
And [d]all unto judgment, then who can hinder him?
11 For he knoweth false men:
He seeth iniquity also, [e]even though he consider it not.
12 [f]But vain man is void of understanding,
Yea, man is born as a wild ass’s colt.

13 If thou set thy heart aright,
And stretch out thy hands toward him;
14 If iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away,
And let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents.
15 Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot;
Yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
16 For thou shalt forget thy misery;
Thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away,
17 And thy life shall [g]be clearer than the noonday;
Though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.
18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope;
Yea, thou shalt search about thee, and 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 [h]they shall have no way to flee;
And their hope shall be the giving up of the ghost.

Footnotes

  1. Job 11:6 Or, remitteth (Hebrew causeth to be forgotten) unto thee of thine iniquity
  2. Job 11:7 Or, Canst thou find out the deep things of God?
  3. Job 11:8 Hebrew The heights of heaven.
  4. Job 11:10 Hebrew call an assembly.
  5. Job 11:11 Or, and him that considereth not
  6. Job 11:12 Or, But an empty man will get understanding, when a wild ass’s colt is born a man.
  7. Job 11:17 Or, arise above
  8. Job 11:20 Hebrew refuge is perished from them.

11 And Zophar the Naamathite answereth and saith: --

Is a multitude of words not answered? And is a man of lips justified?

Thy devices make men keep silent, Thou scornest, and none is causing blushing!

And thou sayest, `Pure [is] my discourse, And clean I have been in Thine eyes.'

And yet, O that God had spoken! And doth open His lips with thee.

And declare to thee secrets of wisdom, For counsel hath foldings. And know thou that God forgetteth for thee, [Some] of thine iniquity.

By searching dost thou find out God? Unto perfection find out the Mighty One?

Heights of the heavens! -- what dost thou? Deeper than Sheol! -- what knowest thou?

Longer than earth [is] its measure, And broader than the sea.

10 If He pass on, and shut up, and assemble, Who then dost reverse it?

11 For he hath known men of vanity, And He seeth iniquity, And one doth not consider [it]!

12 And empty man is bold, And the colt of a wild ass man is born.

13 If thou -- thou hast prepared thy heart, And hast spread out unto Him thy hands,

14 If iniquity [is] in thy hand, put it far off, And let not perverseness dwell in thy tents.

15 For then thou liftest up thy face from blemish, And thou hast been firm, and fearest not.

16 For thou dost forget misery, As waters passed away thou rememberest.

17 And above the noon doth age rise, Thou fliest -- as the morning thou art.

18 And thou hast trusted because their is hope, And searched -- in confidence thou liest down,

19 And thou hast rested, And none is causing trembling, And many have entreated thy face;

20 And the eyes of the wicked are consumed, And refuge hath perished from them, And their hope [is] a breathing out of soul!

Zophar Speaks: Job’s Guilt Deserves Punishment

11 Then Zophar the Na′amathite answered:

“Should a multitude of words go unanswered,
    and a man full of talk be vindicated?
Should your babble silence men,
    and when you mock, shall no one shame you?
For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure,
    and I am clean in God’s eyes.’
But oh, that God would speak,
    and open his lips to you,
and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!
    For he is manifold in understanding.[a]
Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.

“Can you find out the deep things of God?
    Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
It is higher than heaven[b]—what can you do?
    Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
Its measure is longer than the earth,
    and broader than the sea.
10 If he passes through, and imprisons,
    and calls to judgment, who can hinder him?
11 For he knows worthless men;
    when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?
12 But a stupid man will get understanding,
    when a wild ass’s colt is born a man.

13 “If you set your heart aright,
    you will stretch out your hands toward him.
14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
    and let not wickedness dwell in your tents.
15 Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish;
    you will be secure, and will not fear.
16 You will forget your misery;
    you will remember it as waters that have passed away.
17 And your life will be brighter than the noonday;
    its darkness will be like the morning.
18 And you will have confidence, because there is hope;
    you will be protected[c] and take your rest in safety.
19 You will lie down, and none will make you afraid;
    many will entreat your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail;
    all way of escape will be lost to them,
    and their hope is to breathe their last.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 11:6 Heb obscure
  2. Job 11:8 Heb The heights of heaven
  3. Job 11:18 Or you will look around