Job 11
World English Bible
11 Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,
2 “Shouldn’t the multitude of words be answered?
Should a man full of talk be justified?
3 Should your boastings make men hold their peace?
When you mock, will no man make you ashamed?
4 For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure.
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 true wisdom has two sides.
Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.
7 “Can you fathom the mystery of God?
Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are high as heaven. What can you do?
They are deeper than Sheol.[a] What can you know?
9 Its measure is longer than the earth,
and broader than the sea.
10 If he passes by, or confines,
or convenes a court, then who can oppose him?
11 For he knows false men.
He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn’t consider it.
12 An empty-headed man becomes wise
when a man is born as a wild donkey’s colt.
13 “If you set your heart aright,
stretch out your hands toward him.
14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away.
Don’t let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.
15 Surely then you will lift up your face without spot.
Yes, you will be steadfast, and will not fear,
16 for you will forget your misery.
You will remember it like waters that have passed away.
17 Life will be clearer than the noonday.
Though there is darkness, it will be as the morning.
18 You will be secure, because there is hope.
Yes, you will search, and will take your rest in safety.
19 Also you will lie down, and no one will make you afraid.
Yes, many will court your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail.
They will have no way to flee.
Their hope will be the giving up of the spirit.”
Footnotes
- 11:8 Sheol is the place of the dead.
Job 11
New Catholic Bible
Zophar’s First Speech[a]
Chapter 11
God Recognizes the Deceitful. 1 Then Zophar the Naamathite responded:
2 “Should we allow this torrent of words to go unanswered?
Is a clever speaker always to be considered right?
3 Should your endless talk reduce others to silence?
When you mock, is no one allowed to refute you?
4 For you said, ‘My judgments are irrefutable
and I am blameless in the sight of God.’
5 Oh, how I wish that God would speak
and open his lips to contradict your opinions
6 while revealing to you the secrets of wisdom,
which puts human intelligence to shame.
Thus, you might know
that God will call you to account for your sin.
7 “Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
Can you attain to the perfection of the Almighty?
8 It is higher than the heavens—what can you do?
It is deeper than the netherworld—what can you know?
9 Its measure is longer than the earth
and broader than the sea.
10 “If while passing by he decides to imprison you
or subject you to judgment, who can prevent him?
11 He surely recognizes the deceitful;
he will hardly ignore their iniquity.
12 An ignorant fool can no more gain understanding
than a wild donkey can be domesticated.
Stretch Out Your Hands toward God[b]
13 “However, if you will have a change of heart
and stretch out your hands toward him in prayer,
14 if you banish all iniquity far away from you
and do not allow wickedness to penetrate your tent,
15 you will then be able to lift up your face in innocence;
you will be unwavering and without fear.
16 You will then forget your wretchedness,
remembering it only as flood waters gone by.
17 “Then your life will be brighter than noonday,
and its darkness will be like morning.
18 You will be filled with confidence because there is hope;
you will look around and take your rest in safety.
19 You will lie down without fearing anyone,
and many will seek your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail;
for them all the ways of escape will be closed,
and all they can hope for is death.”
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