Job 11
Christian Standard Bible
Zophar Speaks
11 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
2 Should this abundance of words(A) go unanswered
and such a talker[a] be acquitted?
3 Should your babbling put others to silence,
so that you can keep on ridiculing
with no one to humiliate you?
4 You have said, “My teaching(B) is sound,
and I am pure in your sight.”
5 But if only God would speak
and open his lips against you!
6 He would show you the secrets of wisdom,(C)
for true wisdom has two sides.
Know then that God has chosen to overlook some of your iniquity.(D)
7 Can you fathom the depths of God
or discover the limits of the Almighty?(E)
8 They are higher than the heavens—what can you do?
They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?(F)
9 Their measure is longer than the earth
and wider than the sea.
10 If he passes by and throws someone in prison
or convenes a court, who can stop him?(G)
11 Surely he knows which people are worthless.
If he sees iniquity, will he not take note of it?(H)
12 But a stupid person will gain understanding
as soon as a wild donkey is born a human!
13 As for you, if you redirect your heart
and spread out your hands to him in prayer—
14 if there is iniquity in your hand, remove it,
and don’t allow injustice to dwell in your tents—
15 then you will hold your head high, free from fault.
You will be firmly established and unafraid.(I)
16 For you will forget your suffering,
recalling it only as water that has flowed by.
17 Your life will be brighter than noonday;
its darkness[b] will be like the morning.(J)
18 You will be confident, because there is hope.(K)
You will look carefully about and lie down in safety.(L)
Job 11
International Standard Version
Zophar Accuses Job
11 Zophar from Naamath had this to say:
2 “Shouldn’t a multitude of words be answered,
or a person who talks too much[a] be vindicated?
3 Will your irrational babble silence people,
and when you mock them,
will you escape without being shamed?[b]
4 You’ve said, ‘My teaching is flawless;
I’m clean[c] in God’s[d] sight.’
5 “But what if God were to speak?
What if he were[e] to talk[f] with you,
6 and disclose his wise secrets?
After all, there’s so much more[g] to understanding.
So be aware that God will exact from you
less than your sin deserves.”
God’s Wisdom is Unfathomable
7 “Can you search through God’s complex things?
Can you uncover the limits of the Almighty?
8 These things are higher than the heavens,
so what can you do?
They are deeper than Sheol,[h]
so what can you know?
9 They are longer than the earth’s circumference,[i]
and broader than the ocean.
10 “If he bypasses, or imprisons, or convenes a court,[j]
who can stop[k] him?
11 For he knows mankind’s[l] deceitfulness;
when he sees iniquity, won’t he himself consider it?
12 An empty-headed person will gain understanding
when a wild donkey is born a human being!”
Zophar Counsels Job to Repent
13 “Now for you, if you will prepare your heart,
spread out your hands to him.
14 If you have any iniquity, throw it far away.
Don’t let evil[m] live in your residence.[n]
15 Then your confidence will be flawless,
and your security will keep you from terror.
16 You’ll forget your suffering;
you’ll remember it like water that has evaporated.[o]
17 Your life will be brighter than noonday.
Even its darkness will be like dawn.
18 You’ll be secure, because there is hope;
you’ll see that you’re at rest and safe.
19 When you sleep, there’ll be nothing to fear;
and many will court your favor.[p]
20 But what the wicked look for will fail;
their way of escape will be taken away[q] from them;
their only hope is to take their final breath.”[r]
Footnotes
- Job 11:2 Or a talker
- Job 11:3 MT has without being humiliated
- Job 11:4 Or pure
- Job 11:4 Lit. your
- Job 11:5 The Heb. lacks What if he were
- Job 11:5 Lit. open his lips against
- Job 11:6 Lit. double
- Job 11:8 I.e. the place where the dead are in the afterlife
- Job 11:9 Lit. measure
- Job 11:10 The Heb. lacks a court
- Job 11:10 Or repel
- Job 11:11 Lit. men
- Job 11:14 Or wrong
- Job 11:14 Lit. tents
- Job 11:16 Or has flowed past
- Job 11:19 Lit. face
- Job 11:20 Lit. destroyed
- Job 11:20 Lit. is to breathe out their soul
Job 11
Modern English Version
Zophar Speaks: Job Is Guilty
11 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:
2 “Should not the multitude of words be answered?
And should a man full of talk be justified?
3 Should your empty talk make men hold their peace?
And when you mock, will no one shame you?
4 For you have said, ‘My teaching is pure,
And I am clean in your eyes.’
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 they would double your prudence.
And know that God overlooks some of your iniquity.
7 “Can you search out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the totality of the Almighty?
8 It is as high as heaven; what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol; what can you know?
9 Its measure is longer than the earth
and broader than the sea.
10 “If He passes through, and shuts up, and gathers together for judgment,
then who can hinder Him?
11 For He knows worthless men;
He sees wickedness also; will He not then consider it?
12 For an empty-headed man will become wise,
when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.
13 “If you prepare your heart
and stretch out your hands toward Him;
14 if iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
and do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
15 for then you will lift up your face without blemish;
yes, you will be steadfast and will not fear,
16 because you will forget misery,
and remember it as waters that pass away,
17 and your life will be brighter than noonday,
even your darkness will be as the morning.
18 You will trust because there is hope;
yes, you will search about you,
and you will look around and rest in safety.
19 Also you will lie down, and none will make you afraid;
yes, many will court your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
and they will not escape,
and their hope will be as the giving up of breath.”
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The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.