Beginning
Zophar Speaks to Job
11 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:
2 “All these words should not go without an answer.
Is this talker to be judged as right?
3 Your talk should not make people be quiet.
People should shame you when you make fun of God.
4 You say to God, ‘My teachings are right.
And I am clean in God’s sight.’
5 I wish God would speak.
I wish he would open his lips to speak against you.
6 I wish he would tell you the secrets of wisdom.
This is because wisdom has two sides.
Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.
7 “Can you understand the secrets of God?
Can you search the limits of the God All-Powerful?
8 God’s limits are higher than the heavens. You cannot reach them!
They are deeper than where the dead are. You cannot know them!
9 His limits are longer than the earth
and wider than the sea.
10 “God might come along and put you in prison.
If he calls you into court, no one can stop him.
11 God knows which men are evil.
And when he sees evil, he notices it.
12 A stupid person cannot become wise.
That is as impossible as a wild donkey being born tame.
13 “You must give your whole heart to him.
You must hold out your hands to him for help.
14 Put away the sin that is in your hand.
Let no evil live in your tent.
15 Then you can lift up your face without shame.
You can stand strong without fear.
16 You will forget your trouble.
You will remember your troubles only as water that has passed by.
17 Your life will be as bright as the noonday sun.
And darkness will seem like morning.
18 You will feel safe because there is hope.
You will look around and rest in safety.
19 You will lie down, and no one will make you afraid.
Many people will want favor from you.
20 But the wicked people will not be able to see.
So they will not be able to find the way to escape.
Their only hope will be to die.”
Job Answers Zophar
12 Then Job answered:
2 “You really think you are the only wise people.
You think when you die wisdom will die with you.
3 But my mind is as good as yours.
You are not better than I am.
Everyone knows all these things.
4 My friends all laugh at me
when I call on God and expect him to answer me.
They laugh at me even though I am right and innocent!
5 People who are comfortable don’t care that others have trouble.
They think that people who are in trouble should have more troubles.
6 The tents of robbers are not bothered.
Those who make God angry are safe.
They have their god in their pocket.
7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you.
Or ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.
8 Speak to the earth, and it will teach you.
Or let the fish of the sea tell you.
9 Every one of these knows
that the hand of the Lord has done this.
10 The life of every creature
and the breath of all people are in God’s hand.
11 The ear tests words
as the tongue tastes food.
12 Older people are supposed to be wise.
Long life is supposed to bring understanding.
13 “But God has wisdom and power.
He has good advice and understanding.
14 What God tears down cannot be rebuilt.
The man God puts in prison cannot be let out.
15 If God holds back the waters, there is a time without rain.
But if he lets the waters go, they flood the land.
16 God is strong and victorious.
Both the person who fools others and the one who is fooled belong to him.
17 God leads wise men away as captives.
He turns wise judges into fools.
18 God takes the royal belt off of kings.
And he dresses them like prisoners with only a cloth around their waist.
19 He leads priests away as captives.
He destroys the power of those who have been powerful.
20 God makes trusted people be silent.
And he takes away the wisdom of elders.
21 God brings disgrace on important people.
And he takes away the weapons of the strong.
22 God uncovers the deep things of darkness.
He brings dark shadows into the light.
23 He makes nations great, and he destroys them.
He makes nations large, and he scatters them.
24 He takes understanding away from the leaders of the earth.
He makes them wander through a desert with no paths.
25 They feel around in darkness with no light.
God makes them stumble around like drunken people.
13 “My eyes have seen all this.
My ears have heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know.
You are not better than I am.
3 But I want to speak to God All-Powerful.
I want to argue my case with God.
4 But you smear me with lies.
You are worthless doctors, all of you!
5 I wish you would just stop talking.
Then you would really be wise!
6 Listen to my argument.
Hear my lips begging.
7 You should not speak for God by saying evil things.
You cannot speak God’s truth by telling lies.
8 You should not unfairly choose his side against mine.
You should not argue the case for God.
9 You will not do well if he examines you.
You cannot fool God as you might fool men.
10 God would surely scold you
if you unfairly took one person’s side.
11 His bright glory would scare you.
You would be very much afraid of him.
12 Your wise sayings are worth no more than ashes.
Your arguments are as weak as clay.
13 “Be quiet and let me speak.
Then let things happen to me as they will.
14 I will put myself in danger
and take my life in my own hands.
15 He will kill me. I have no hope.[a]
But I still will defend my ways to his face.
16 This might really save me,
because a wicked man would not be brave enough to come before him.
17 Listen carefully to what I say.
Let your ears hear what I say.
18 See now, I have prepared my case.
I know I will be proved right.
19 No one can blame me for doing wrong.
If someone can, I will be quiet and die.
20 “God, please just give me these two things.
Then I will not hide from you.
21 Take your punishment away from me.
And stop frightening me with your terrors.
22 Then call me, and I will answer.
Or let me speak and you answer.
23 How many evil things and sins have I done?
Show me my wrong and my sin.
24 Don’t hide your face from me.
Don’t think of me as your enemy.
25 Don’t punish a leaf that is blown by the wind.
Don’t chase after dry chaff.
26 You write down cruel things against me.
You make me suffer for sins I did when I was young.
27 You put my feet in chains.
You keep close watch on everywhere I go.
And you mark the soles of my feet.
28 So man wears out like something rotten.
He is like clothing that has been eaten by moths.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.