Job 11
Expanded Bible
Zophar Speaks to Job
11 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:
2 “Should ·these [L such a large number of] words go unanswered?
·Is this talker in the right [or Should a talkative man be declared righteous]?
3 Your ·lies [L empty words] do not make people quiet;
people should ·correct [L shame] you when you ·make fun of God [L mock].
4 You ·say [claim], ‘My teachings are ·right [L pure],
and I am clean in ·God’s sight [L your eyes].’
5 I wish God would speak
and open his ·lips [L mouth] against you
6 and tell you the secrets of wisdom,
because ·wisdom [resourcefulness] has ·two [or many] sides.
Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin [C he has been tolerant of Job’s sin].
7 “Can you ·understand [L discover] the ·secrets [L deep things] of God?
Can you ·search [L discover] the limits of ·the Almighty [Shaddai]?
8 His limits are higher than the heavens; ·you cannot reach them [L what can you do]!
They are deeper than ·the grave [L Sheol]; you cannot understand them!
9 His limits are longer than the earth
and wider than the sea.
10 “If God ·comes along [L passes by] and puts you in prison
or ·calls you into court [L assembles for judgment], ·no one can stop him [L who can turn him back?].
11 God knows who is ·evil [worthless],
and when he sees ·evil [or an evil person], ·he takes [L does he not take…?] note of it.
12 A ·fool [L empty-headed person] cannot ·become wise [get understanding]
any more than a wild donkey can ·be born tame [or give birth to a human; C Zophar insults Job’s wisdom].
13 “You must ·give your whole heart to him [focus your heart]
and ·hold [spread] out your hands to him for help.
14 ·Put away [Remove] the sin that is in your hand;
let no ·evil [iniquity] ·remain [L take up residence] in your tent [C Zophar urges Job to repent].
15 Then you can lift up your face without ·shame [L blemish],
and you can ·stand strong [L be secure] without fear.
16 You will forget your trouble
and remember it only as water ·gone by [running away].
17 Your life will be ·as bright as [brighter than] the noonday sun,
and darkness will seem like morning.
18 You will ·feel safe [be secure] because there is hope;
you will ·look around [explore] and ·rest [L lie down] in safety.
19 You will lie down, and ·no one will scare you [L not tremble with fear].
Many people will want favors from you.
20 But the ·wicked will not be able to see [L eyes of the wicked will fail],
so ·they will not escape [L their escape route will be lost to them].
Their only ·hope [expectation] will be to die.”
Job 11
New International Reader's Version
The First Speech of Zophar
11 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied,
2 “Don’t all your words require an answer?
I’m sure that what you are saying can’t be right.
3 Your useless talk won’t keep us quiet.
Someone has to correct you when you make fun of truth.
4 You say to God, ‘My beliefs are perfect.
I’m pure in your sight.’
5 I wish God would speak.
I wish he’d answer you.
6 I wish he’d show you the secrets of wisdom.
After all, true wisdom has two sides.
Here’s what I want you to know.
God has forgotten some of your sins.
7 “Do you know how deep the mysteries of God are?
Can you discover the limits of the Mighty One’s knowledge?
8 They are higher than the heavens above.
What can you do?
They are deeper than the deepest parts of the earth below.
What can you know?
9 They are longer than the earth.
They are wider than the ocean.
10 “Suppose God comes along and puts you in prison.
Suppose he takes you to court.
Then who can oppose him?
11 He certainly knows when people tell lies.
When he sees evil, he pays careful attention to it.
12 A wild donkey’s colt can’t be born a human being.
And it’s just as impossible that a person without sense can become wise.
13 “So commit yourself to God completely.
Reach out your hands to him for help.
14 Get rid of all the sin you have.
Don’t let anything that is evil stay in your tent.
15 Then, free of those things, you can face others.
You can stand firm without being afraid.
16 You can be sure you will forget your troubles.
They will be like water that has flowed on by.
17 Life will be brighter than the sun at noon.
And darkness will become like morning.
18 You will be secure, because there is hope.
You will look around you and find a safe place to rest.
19 You will lie down, and no one will make you afraid.
Many people will want you to help them.
20 But sinful people won’t find what they are looking for.
They won’t be able to escape.
All they can hope for is to die.”
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
