Job 11
Revised Standard Version
Zophar Speaks: Job’s Guilt Deserves Punishment
11 Then Zophar the Na′amathite answered:
2 “Should a multitude of words go unanswered,
and a man full of talk be vindicated?
3 Should your babble silence men,
and when you mock, shall no one shame you?
4 For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure,
and I am clean in God’s eyes.’
5 But oh, that God would speak,
and open his lips to you,
6 and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!
For he is manifold in understanding.[a]
Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.
7 “Can you find out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
8 It is higher than heaven[b]—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 imprisons,
and calls to judgment, who can hinder him?
11 For he knows worthless men;
when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?
12 But a stupid man will get understanding,
when a wild ass’s colt is born a man.
13 “If you set your heart aright,
you will stretch out your hands toward him.
14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
and let not wickedness dwell in your tents.
15 Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish;
you will be secure, and will not fear.
16 You will forget your misery;
you will remember it as waters that have passed away.
17 And your life will be brighter than the noonday;
its darkness will be like the morning.
18 And you will have confidence, because there is hope;
you will be protected[c] and take your rest in safety.
19 You will lie down, and none will make you afraid;
many will entreat your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail;
all way of escape will be lost to them,
and their hope is to breathe their last.”
Job 11
EasyEnglish Bible
Job's friend Zophar speaks to him[a]
11 Job's friend Zophar, who came from Naamah, decided to speak. He said this to Job:
2 ‘Someone must answer all these words that you have spoken.
You have talked a lot,
but that does not mean that you are right.
3 Your proud words will not cause other people to say nothing.
We must make you ashamed when you laugh at us.
4 You have said, “The things that I teach are true.
God knows that I am a good man.”
5 So God himself should answer you.
He should tell you what he thinks.
6 He would show you the secret of wisdom.
True wisdom is not easy to understand.
But you must understand this:
God is punishing you less than you deserve.
7 You cannot discover everything about God.
You cannot know how powerful he is.
8 His power goes higher than the sky.
You cannot do anything about that.
His power goes deeper than the place of death.
You cannot know all about that.
9 The truth about God is wider than the whole earth.
It goes far beyond the sea.
10 God may catch you and put you in prison.
He may accuse you in a court.
Nobody can stop him doing that.
11 God knows the people who are not honest.
He sees the evil things that they do.
12 Wild donkeys never give birth to human children.
And foolish people never become wise!
13 As for you, Job, you should be faithful to God.
Raise your hands and pray to God.
14 If you want to do an evil thing,
stop yourself from doing it.
Do not let people do wrong things in your home.
15 Do what I say. Then you will not be ashamed any more.
Instead, you will be strong. You will not be afraid.
16 You will forget about your trouble.
It will be like water that has disappeared.
You will not remember it.
17 You will have a happy life
that is brighter than the sun at noon.
Even if trouble makes it dark,
it will still seem like a bright morning.
18 You will be safe as you trust God.
God will protect you.
You will be able to rest safely.
19 When you lie down to sleep,
you will not be afraid of anyone.
Many people will ask you to help them.
20 But wicked people will not find any help.
They cannot escape from their troubles.
They can only hope to die.’
Footnotes
- 11:1 Zophar tells Job that God knows everything. So Job must have done wrong things and God is punishing him. If he stops doing wrong things, he will be happy again.
Job 11
King James Version
11 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.
5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
6 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.
7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
9 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.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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