Job 11
New American Standard Bible 1995
Zophar Rebukes Job
11 Then Zophar the Naamathite [a]answered,
2 “Shall a multitude of words go unanswered,
And a (A)talkative man be acquitted?
3 “Shall your boasts silence men?
And shall you (B)scoff and none rebuke?
4 “For (C)you have said, ‘My teaching is pure,
And (D)I am innocent in your eyes.’
5 “But would that God might speak,
And open His lips against you,
6 And show you the secrets of wisdom!
For sound wisdom [b](E)has two sides.
Know then that God [c]forgets a part of (F)your iniquity.
7 “(G)Can you discover the depths of God?
Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?
8 “They are (H)high as [d]the heavens, what can you do?
Deeper than [e](I)Sheol, what can you know?
9 “Its measure is longer than the earth
And broader than the sea.
10 “If He passes by or shuts up,
Or calls an assembly, (J)who can restrain Him?
11 “For (K)He knows false men,
And He (L)sees iniquity [f]without investigating.
12 “[g](M)An idiot will become intelligent
When the [h]foal of a (N)wild donkey is born a man.
13 “(O)If you would (P)direct your heart right
And (Q)spread out your hand to Him,
14 If iniquity is in your hand, (R)put it far away,
And do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
15 “Then, indeed, you could (S)lift up your face without moral defect,
And you would be steadfast and (T)not fear.
16 “For you would (U)forget your trouble,
As (V)waters that have passed by, you would remember it.
17 “Your [i]life would be [j](W)brighter than noonday;
Darkness would be like the morning.
18 “Then you would trust, because there is hope;
And you would look around and rest securely.
19 “You would (X)lie down and none would disturb you,
And many would (Y)entreat your [k]favor.
20 “But the (Z)eyes of the wicked will fail,
And [l]there will (AA)be no escape for them;
And their (AB)hope is [m](AC)to breathe their last.”
Footnotes
- Job 11:1 Lit answered and said
- Job 11:6 Lit is double
- Job 11:6 Lit causes to be forgotten for you
- Job 11:8 Lit the heights of heaven
- Job 11:8 I.e. the nether world
- Job 11:11 Or even He does not consider
- Job 11:12 Lit A hollow man
- Job 11:12 Lit donkey
- Job 11:17 Lit duration of life
- Job 11:17 Lit above noonday
- Job 11:19 Lit face
- Job 11:20 Lit escape has perished from them
- Job 11:20 Lit the expiring of the soul
Job 11
King James Version
11 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 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.
Job 11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Zophar Speaks: Job’s Guilt Deserves Punishment
11 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:
2 “Should a multitude of words go unanswered,
and should one full of talk be vindicated?(A)
3 Should your babble put others to silence,
and when you mock, shall no one shame you?(B)
4 For you say, ‘My conduct[a] is pure,
and I am clean in God’s[b] sight.’(C)
5 But O that God would speak
and open his lips to you
6 and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!
For wisdom is many-sided.[c]
Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.(D)
7 “Can you find out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?[d](E)
8 It is higher than heaven[e]—what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?(F)
9 Its measure is longer than the earth
and broader than the sea.
10 If he passes through and imprisons
and assembles for judgment, who can hinder him?(G)
11 For he knows those who are worthless;
when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?(H)
12 But the stupid will get understanding
when a wild ass is born human.[f]
13 “If you direct your heart rightly,
you will stretch out your hands toward him.(I)
14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
and do not let wickedness reside in your tents.(J)
15 Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish;
you will be secure and will not fear.(K)
16 You will forget your misery;
you will remember it as waters that have passed away.(L)
17 And your life will be brighter than the noonday;
its darkness will be like the morning.(M)
18 And you will have confidence because there is hope;
you will be protected[g] and take your rest in safety.(N)
19 You will lie down, and no one 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.”(O)
Job 11
New King James Version
Zophar Urges Job to Repent
11 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
2 “Should not the multitude of words be answered?
And should [a]a man full of talk be vindicated?
3 Should your empty talk make men [b]hold their peace?
And when you mock, should no one rebuke you?
4 For you have said,
(A)‘My doctrine is pure,
And 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 they would double your prudence.
Know therefore that (B)God [c]exacts from you
Less than your iniquity deserves.
7 “Can(C) you search out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are higher than heaven—what can you do?
Deeper than [d]Sheol—what can you know?
9 Their measure is longer than the earth
And broader than the sea.
10 “If(D) He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment,
Then who can [e]hinder Him?
11 For (E)He knows deceitful men;
He sees wickedness also.
Will He not then consider it?
12 For an (F)empty-headed man will be wise,
When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.
13 “If you would (G)prepare your heart,
And (H)stretch out your hands toward Him;
14 If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away,
And (I)would not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
15 (J)Then surely you could lift up your face without spot;
Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear;
16 Because you would (K)forget your misery,
And remember it as waters that have passed away,
17 And your life (L)would be brighter than noonday.
Though you were dark, you would be like the morning.
18 And you would be secure, because there is hope;
Yes, you would dig around you, and (M)take your rest in safety.
19 You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid;
Yes, many would court your favor.
20 But (N)the eyes of the wicked will fail,
And they shall not escape,
And (O)their hope—[f]loss of life!”
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
