Job 11
Contemporary English Version
Zophar's First Speech
So Much Foolish Talk
11 Zophar from Naamah[a] said:
2 So much foolish talk
cannot go unanswered.
3 Your words have silenced others
and made them ashamed;
now it is only right for you
to be put to shame.
4 You claim to be innocent
and argue that your beliefs
are acceptable to God.
5 But I wish God would speak
6 and let you know that wisdom
has many different sides.
You would then discover
that God has punished you
less than you deserve.
7 Can you understand the mysteries
surrounding God All-Powerful?
8 They are higher than the heavens
and deeper than the grave.
So what can you do
when you know so little,
9 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
*
Job 11
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
11 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied,
2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk [and making such great professions] be pronounced free from guilt or blame?
3 Should your boastings and babble make men keep silent? And when you mock and scoff, shall no man make you ashamed?
4 For you have said, My doctrine [that God afflicts the righteous knowingly] is pure, and I am clean in [God’s] eyes.(A)
5 But oh, that God would speak, and open His lips against you,
6 And that He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For He is manifold in understanding! Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your guilt and iniquity [deserve].
7 Can you find out the deep things of God, or can you by searching find out the limits of the Almighty [explore His depths, ascend to His heights, extend to His breadths, and comprehend His infinite perfection]?
8 His wisdom is as high as the heights of heaven! What can you do? It is deeper than Sheol (the place of the dead)! What can you know?
9 Longer in measure [and scope] is it than the earth, and broader than the sea.
10 If [God] sweeps in and arrests and calls into judgment, who can hinder Him? [If He is against a man, who shall call Him to account for it?]
11 For He recognizes and knows hollow, wicked, and useless men (men of falsehood); when He sees iniquity, will He not consider it?
12 But a stupid man will get wisdom [only] when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man [as when he thinks himself free because he is lifted up in pride].
13 If you set your heart aright and stretch out your hands to [God],
14 If you put sin out of your hand and far away from you and let not evil dwell in your tents;
15 Then can you lift up your face to Him without stain [of sin, and unashamed]; yes, you shall be steadfast and secure; you shall not fear.
16 For you shall forget your misery; you shall remember it as waters that pass away.
17 And [your] life shall be clearer than the noonday and rise above it; though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.
18 And you shall be secure and feel confident because there is hope; yes, you shall search about you, and you shall take your rest in safety.
19 You shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; yes, many shall sue for your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked shall look [for relief] in vain, and they shall not escape [the justice of God]; and their hope shall be to give up the ghost.
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