Job 11
Living Bible
11 Zophar the Naamathite replies to Job:
2 “Shouldn’t someone stem this torrent of words? Is a man proved right by all this talk? 3 Should I remain silent while you boast? When you mock God, shouldn’t someone make you ashamed? 4 You claim you are pure in the eyes of God! 5 Oh, that God would speak and tell you what he thinks! 6 Oh, that he would make you truly see yourself, for he knows everything you’ve done. Listen! God is doubtless punishing you far less than you deserve!
7 “Do you know the mind and purposes of God? Will long searching make them known to you? Are you qualified to judge the Almighty? 8 He is as faultless as heaven is high—but who are you? His mind is fathomless—what can you know in comparison? 9 His Spirit is broader than the earth and wider than the sea. 10 If he rushes in and makes an arrest, and calls the court to order, who is going to stop him? 11 For he knows perfectly all the faults and sins of mankind; he sees all sin without searching.
12 “Mere man is as likely to be wise as a wild donkey’s colt is likely to be born a man!
13-14 “Before you turn to God and stretch out your hands to him, get rid of your sins and leave all iniquity behind you. 15 Only then, without the spots of sin to defile you, can you walk steadily forward to God without fear. 16 Only then can you forget your misery. It will all be in the past. 17 And your life will be cloudless; any darkness will be as bright as morning!
18 “You will have courage because you will have hope. You will take your time and rest in safety. 19 You will lie down unafraid, and many will look to you for help. 20 But the wicked shall find no way to escape; their only hope is death.”
Job 11
English Standard Version
Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse
11 Then (A)Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
2 “Should (B)a multitude of words go unanswered,
and a man full of talk be judged right?
3 Should your babble silence men,
and when you mock, shall no one shame you?
4 For (C)you say, ‘My (D)doctrine is pure,
and I am clean in God's[a] 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 (E)understanding.[b]
Know then that God (F)exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.
7 (G)“Can you find out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
8 It is (H)higher than heaven[c]—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 (I)passes through and (J)imprisons
and summons the court, who can (K)turn him back?
11 For he knows (L)worthless men;
when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?
12 But a stupid man will get understanding
when (M)a wild donkey's colt is (N)born a man!
13 “If you (O)prepare your heart,
you will (P)stretch out your hands toward him.
14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
and let not injustice dwell in your tents.
15 Surely then you will (Q)lift up your face without (R)blemish;
you will be secure and will not fear.
16 You will (S)forget your misery;
you will remember it as waters that have passed away.
17 And your life will be (T)brighter than the noonday;
its darkness will be like the morning.
18 And you will feel secure, because there is hope;
you will look around and (U)take your rest in security.
19 You will (V)lie down, and none will make you afraid;
many will (W)court your favor.
20 But (X)the eyes of the wicked will fail;
all way of escape will be lost to them,
and their hope is (Y)to breathe their last.”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
