Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse

11 Then (A)Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

“Should (B)a multitude of words go unanswered,
    and a man full of talk be judged right?
Should your babble silence men,
    and when you mock, shall no one shame you?
For (C)you say, ‘My (D)doctrine is pure,
    and I am clean in God's[a] 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 (E)understanding.[b]
Know then that God (F)exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.

(G)“Can you find out the deep things of God?
    Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
It is (H)higher than heaven[c]—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 (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.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 11:4 Hebrew your
  2. Job 11:6 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  3. Job 11:8 Hebrew The heights of heaven

Zophar's First Speech

So Much Foolish Talk

11 Zophar from Naamah[a] said:
So much foolish talk
    cannot go unanswered.
Your words have silenced others
    and made them ashamed;
now it is only right for you
    to be put to shame.
You claim to be innocent
and argue that your beliefs
    are acceptable to God.
But I wish God would speak
and let you know that wisdom
    has many different sides.
You would then discover
that God has punished you
    less than you deserve.

Can you understand the mysteries
    surrounding God All-Powerful?
They are higher than the heavens
    and deeper than the grave.
So what can you do
    when you know so little,
and these mysteries outreach
    the earth and the ocean?

10 If God puts you in prison
or drags you to court,
    what can you do?
11 God has the wisdom to know
when someone is worthless
    and sinful,
12 but it's easier to tame
a wild donkey
    than to make a fool wise.[b]

Surrender Your Heart to God

13 Surrender your heart to God,
    turn to him in prayer,
14 and give up your sins—
    even those you do in secret.
15 Then you won't be ashamed;
you will be confident
    and fearless.
16 Your troubles will go away
    like water beneath a bridge,
17 and your darkest night
    will be brighter than noon.
18 You will rest safe and secure,
filled with hope
    and emptied of worry.
19 You will sleep without fear
    and be greatly respected.
20 But those who are evil
will go blind and lose their way.
    Their only escape is death!

Job's Reply to Zophar

You Think You Are So Great

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Footnotes

  1. 11.1 Naamah: See the note at 2.11.
  2. 11.12 it's … wise: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.