Job 11
International Children’s Bible
Zophar Speaks to Job
11 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:
2 “All these words should not go without an answer.
Is this talker to be judged as right?
3 Your talk should not make people be quiet.
People should shame you when you make fun of God.
4 You say to God, ‘My teachings are right.
And I am clean in God’s sight.’
5 I wish God would speak.
I wish he would open his lips to speak against you.
6 I wish he would tell you the secrets of wisdom.
This is because wisdom has two sides.
Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.
7 “Can you understand the secrets of God?
Can you search the limits of the God All-Powerful?
8 God’s limits are higher than the heavens. You cannot reach them!
They are deeper than where the dead are. You cannot know them!
9 His limits are longer than the earth
and wider than the sea.
10 “God might come along and put you in prison.
If he calls you into court, no one can stop him.
11 God knows which men are evil.
And when he sees evil, he notices it.
12 A stupid person cannot become wise.
That is as impossible as a wild donkey being born tame.
13 “You must give your whole heart to him.
You must hold out your hands to him for help.
14 Put away the sin that is in your hand.
Let no evil live in your tent.
15 Then you can lift up your face without shame.
You can stand strong without fear.
16 You will forget your trouble.
You will remember your troubles only as water that has passed by.
17 Your life will be as bright as the noonday sun.
And darkness will seem like morning.
18 You will feel safe because there is hope.
You will look around and rest in safety.
19 You will lie down, and no one will make you afraid.
Many people will want favor from you.
20 But the wicked people will not be able to see.
So they will not be able to find the way to escape.
Their only hope will be to die.”
Job 11
Lexham English Bible
Zophar’s First Response to Job
11 Then[a] Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,
2 “Should an abundance of words go unanswered,
or a man full of talk[b] be vindicated?[c]
3 Should your loose talk put people to silence?
And when you mock, shall no one put you to shame?[d]
4 For you say, ‘My teaching is pure,
and I am clean in your sight.’
5 But,[e] O that[f] God might speak,
and that he would open his lips to you,
6 and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom,
for insight has many sides.[g]
And know that God on your behalf[h] has forgotten some of[i] your guilt.
7 “Can you find out the essence of God,
or can you find out the ultimate limits[j] of Shaddai?
8 It is higher than the heaven;[k] what can you do?
It is 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 imprisons someone[l]
and summons the assembly,[m] then[n] who can hinder him?
11 For he knows those who are worthless;[o]
when he sees[p] iniquity, he will not consider it.[q]
12 But[r] an empty-headed person[s] will get understanding
when[t] a wild donkey’s colt is born as a human being.
13 “If you yourself[u] direct your heart
and stretch out your hands to him—
14 if iniquity[v] is in your hand, put it far away,
and you must not let wickedness reside in your tents—
15 surely then you will lift up your face without[w] blemish,
and you will be firmly established and will not fear.[x]
16 For you yourself[y] will forget your misery;
you will remember it as water that has flowed past.
17 “And your life will be brighter than noon;[z]
its darkness will be like the morning.
18 And you will have confidence because there is hope;
and you will be well protected—you will sleep in safety.[aa]
19 And you will lie down, and no one will make you afraid;[ab]
and many will entreat your favor.[ac]
20 But[ad] the eyes of the wicked will fail;
and refuge will be lost to them,
and their hope is to breathe their last breath.”[ae]
Footnotes
- Job 11:1 Hebrew “And”
- Job 11:2 Literally “a man of lips”
- Job 11:2 Hebrew “should he be vindicated”
- Job 11:3 Literally “And you will mock there is not putting to shame”
- Job 11:5 Hebrew “And but”
- Job 11:5 Literally “who shall give”
- Job 11:6 Literally “double to sound wisdom”
- Job 11:6 Literally “for you”
- Job 11:6 Literally “from”
- Job 11:7 Literally “up to the limit”
- Job 11:8 Literally “heights of heaven”
- Job 11:10 Hebrew “and he imprisons”
- Job 11:10 Literally “and he summons”
- Job 11:10 Hebrew “and”
- Job 11:11 Literally “men of worthlessness”
- Job 11:11 Literally “And he will see”
- Job 11:11 Literally “and he will not consider”
- Job 11:12 Hebrew “And”
- Job 11:12 Literally “a man hollowed out”
- Job 11:12 Hebrew “and”
- Job 11:13 Emphatic personal pronoun
- Job 11:14 See v. 11, where the same word is used
- Job 11:15 Hebrew “from”
- Job 11:15 Hebrew “and not will you fear”
- Job 11:16 Emphatic personal pronoun
- Job 11:17 Literally “And from noon lifespan will arise”
- Job 11:18 Literally “you will lie down securely”
- Job 11:19 Literally “there is not making afraid”
- Job 11:19 Literally “and they will appease/implore your faces many”
- Job 11:20 Hebrew “And”
- Job 11:20 Literally “the expiring of soul”
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