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Job 11
New Catholic Bible
Job 11
New Catholic Bible
Zophar’s First Speech[a]
Chapter 11
God Recognizes the Deceitful. 1 Then Zophar the Naamathite responded:
2 “Should we allow this torrent of words to go unanswered?
Is a clever speaker always to be considered right?
3 Should your endless talk reduce others to silence?
When you mock, is no one allowed to refute you?
4 For you said, ‘My judgments are irrefutable
and I am blameless in the sight of God.’
5 Oh, how I wish that God would speak
and open his lips to contradict your opinions
6 while revealing to you the secrets of wisdom,
which puts human intelligence to shame.
Thus, you might know
that God will call you to account for your sin.
7 “Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
Can you attain to the perfection of the Almighty?
8 It is higher than the heavens—what can you do?
It is deeper than the netherworld—what can you know?
9 Its measure is longer than the earth
and broader than the sea.
10 “If while passing by he decides to imprison you
or subject you to judgment, who can prevent him?
11 He surely recognizes the deceitful;
he will hardly ignore their iniquity.
12 An ignorant fool can no more gain understanding
than a wild donkey can be domesticated.
Stretch Out Your Hands toward God[b]
13 “However, if you will have a change of heart
and stretch out your hands toward him in prayer,
14 if you banish all iniquity far away from you
and do not allow wickedness to penetrate your tent,
15 you will then be able to lift up your face in innocence;
you will be unwavering and without fear.
16 You will then forget your wretchedness,
remembering it only as flood waters gone by.
17 “Then your life will be brighter than noonday,
and its darkness will be like morning.
18 You will be filled with confidence because there is hope;
you will look around and take your rest in safety.
19 You will lie down without fearing anyone,
and many will seek your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail;
for them all the ways of escape will be closed,
and all they can hope for is death.”
Job 11
New International Version
Job 11
New International Version
Zophar
11 Then Zophar the Naamathite(A) replied:
2 “Are all these words to go unanswered?(B)
Is this talker to be vindicated?(C)
3 Will your idle talk(D) reduce others to silence?
Will no one rebuke you when you mock?(E)
4 You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless(F)
and I am pure(G) in your sight.’
5 Oh, how I wish that God would speak,(H)
that he would open his lips against you
6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,(I)
for true wisdom has two sides.
Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.(J)
7 “Can you fathom(K) the mysteries of God?
Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are higher(L) than the heavens(M) above—what can you do?
They are deeper than the depths below(N)—what can you know?(O)
9 Their measure(P) is longer than the earth
and wider than the sea.(Q)
10 “If he comes along and confines you in prison
and convenes a court, who can oppose him?(R)
11 Surely he recognizes deceivers;
and when he sees evil, does he not take note?(S)
12 But the witless can no more become wise
than a wild donkey’s colt(T) can be born human.[a](U)
13 “Yet if you devote your heart(V) to him
and stretch out your hands(W) to him,(X)
14 if you put away(Y) the sin that is in your hand
and allow no evil(Z) to dwell in your tent,(AA)
15 then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;(AB)
you will stand firm(AC) and without fear.(AD)
16 You will surely forget your trouble,(AE)
recalling it only as waters gone by.(AF)
17 Life will be brighter than noonday,(AG)
and darkness will become like morning.(AH)
18 You will be secure, because there is hope;
you will look about you and take your rest(AI) in safety.(AJ)
19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,(AK)
and many will court your favor.(AL)
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,(AM)
and escape will elude them;(AN)
their hope will become a dying gasp.”(AO)
Footnotes
- Job 11:12 Or wild donkey can be born tame
Job 11
King James Version
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.
New International Version (NIV) 
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