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Zophar Speaks: Job’s Guilt Deserves Punishment

11 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:

“Should a multitude of words go unanswered,
    and should one full of talk be vindicated?(A)
Should your babble put others to silence,
    and when you mock, shall no one shame you?(B)
For you say, ‘My conduct[a] is pure,
    and I am clean in God’s[b] sight.’(C)
But O that God would speak
    and open his lips to you
and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!
    For wisdom is many-sided.[c]
Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 11.4 Gk: Heb teaching
  2. 11.4 Heb your
  3. 11.6 Meaning of Heb uncertain

Zophar’s First Response to Job

11 Then[a] Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

“Should an abundance of words go unanswered,
or a man full of talk[b] be vindicated?[c]
Should your loose talk put people to silence?
And when you mock, shall no one put you to shame?[d]
For you say, ‘My teaching is pure,
and I am clean in your sight.’
But,[e] O that[f] God might speak,
and that he would open his lips to you,
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.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 11:1 Hebrew “And”
  2. Job 11:2 Literally “a man of lips”
  3. Job 11:2 Hebrew “should he be vindicated”
  4. Job 11:3 Literally “And you will mock there is not putting to shame”
  5. Job 11:5 Hebrew “And but”
  6. Job 11:5 Literally “who shall give”
  7. Job 11:6 Literally “double to sound wisdom”
  8. Job 11:6 Literally “for you”
  9. Job 11:6 Literally “from”