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11 Then answered Tzophar the Na’amati, and said,

Should not the multitude of dvarim be answered? And should an ish full of talk yitzdak (be justified)?

Should thy vain talk silence men, so that thou mockest, v’ein machlim (without anyone putting thee to shame)?

For thou hast said, My lekach (doctrine, teaching, belief) is pure, and I am clean in Thine eyes.

But oh that Eloah would speak, and open His lips against thee,

And that He would show thee the secrets of chochmah, that tushiyyah (true wisdom) has two sides! Have da’as therefore that Eloah forgetteth much of thy avon.

Canst thou search out the cheker Eloah (depths of G-d)? Canst thou probe to the tachlis Shaddai (the end, completeness of Almighty)?

It is like the heights of Shomayim; what canst thou do? Deeper than Sheol; of what canst thou have da’as?

The measure thereof is longer than ha’aretz, and broader than the yam (sea).

10 When Eloah passes by and arrests and convenes for judgment, who then can constrain Him?

11 For He has da’as of deceitful men; He seeth wickedness also; will He not then take note of it?

12 But before a witless ish can become wise, a colt of a pereh (wild donkey) would be born an adam!

13 If thou direct thine lev, and stretch out thine hands to Him,

14 If iniquity be in thine yad, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy ohalim.

15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without mum; yea, thou shalt be firm, and shalt not fear,

16 Because thou shalt forget thy amal (grief), and remember it as waters that flow by,

17 And thine cheled (duration of life) shall be brighter than the tzohorayim (noonday); thou shalt shine forth; thou shalt be as the boker.

18 And thou shalt be secure, because now there is tikveh; yea, thou shalt search, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, rabbim (many) shall court thy favor.

20 But the eyes of the resha’im faileth, and they shall not escape, and their tikveh shall be as the last gasp of the nefesh.

11 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

10 If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

12 For vain men would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.

13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday: thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.

Zophar Asks, Can You Find the Depths of God?

11 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

“Shall a multitude of words go unanswered,
And a (A)man of lips be in the right?
Shall your boasts silence men?
And shall you (B)mock and none rebuke?
(C)You have said, ‘My learning is pure,
And (D)I am innocent in your eyes.’
But would that God might speak,
And open His lips against you,
And tell you the secrets of wisdom!
For sound wisdom [a](E)has two sides.
Know then that God [b]forgets a part of (F)your iniquity.

(G)Can you find the depths of God?
Can you find the limits of the Almighty?
They are (H)high as [c]the heavens, what can you do?
Deeper than (I)Sheol, what can you know?
Its measure is longer than the earth
And broader than the sea.
10 If He sweeps by or shuts up,
Or calls an assembly, (J)who can turn Him around?
11 For (K)He knows worthless men,
And He (L)sees wickedness, [d]so will He not carefully consider it?
12 [e](M)Yet an empty headed man will obtain a heart of wisdom,
And the [f]foal of a (N)wild donkey is born a man.

13 (O)If you would (P)set your heart right
And (Q)spread out your hand to Him,
14 If wickedness is in your hand, (R)put it far away,
And do not let unrighteousness dwell in your tents;
15 Then, indeed, you could (S)lift up your face without moral defect,
And you would be steadfast and (T)not fear.
16 For you would (U)forget your trouble,
As (V)waters that pass by, so you would remember it.
17 And your lifetime would (W)arise brighter than noonday;
Darkness would be like the morning.
18 Then you would trust, because there is hope;
And you would search around and rest securely.
19 You would (X)lie down and none would make you tremble,
And many would (Y)entreat your [g]favor.
20 But the (Z)eyes of the wicked will come to an end,
And escape will (AA)perish from them;
And their (AB)hope is (AC)the expiring of their soul.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 11:6 Lit is double
  2. Job 11:6 Lit causes to be forgotten for you
  3. Job 11:8 Lit the heights of heaven
  4. Job 11:11 Or even He does not consider
  5. Job 11:12 Lit A hollow man
  6. Job 11:12 Lit donkey
  7. Job 11:19 Lit face