Job 11

¹But Zophar the Naamathite, responding, said:

²Will he who speaks much, not also listen? Or will a talkative man be justified?

³Will men be silent only for you? And when you have mocked others, will no one refute you?

⁴For you said: “My word is pure, and I am clean in your sight.”

⁵Yet I wish that God would speak with you, and would open his lips to you,

⁶so that he might reveal to you the secrets of wisdom, and how intricate his law is, and that you would understand how much less he requires of you than your iniquity deserves.

⁷By chance, will you comprehend the footsteps of God and reach all the way to the perfection of the Almighty?

⁸He is higher than heaven, and what will you do? He is deeper than hell, but how will you know?

⁹His measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

¹⁰If he overturns all things, or packs them together, who will contradict him?

¹¹For he knows the vanity of men, and when he sees iniquity, does he not evaluate it?

¹²A vain man is lifted up in arrogance, and he thinks that he is born free like a wild ass’s colt.

¹³But you have fortified your heart and extended your hands to him.

¹⁴If you would send away from you the iniquity that is in your hand, and not let injustice remain in your tabernacle,

¹⁵then you would be able to lift up your face without blemish, and you would be steadfast and unafraid.

¹⁶Misery, likewise, you would forget, or would remember only like waters that have passed by.

¹⁷And brightness, like that of midday, will rise upon you until evening, and when you would think yourself consumed, you will rise up like the morning star.

¹⁸And, when hope has been set before you, you will have faith, and, when buried, you will sleep secure.

¹⁹You will rest, and there will be nothing to make you afraid, and many will make requests before your face.

²⁰But the eyes of the impious will fade away, and the path to escape will perish before them, for the abomination of the soul is their hope.

Job 11

¹Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

²Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

³Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

⁴For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

⁵But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

⁶And 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.

⁷Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

⁸It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

⁹The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

¹⁰If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

¹¹For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

¹²For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.

¹³If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

¹⁴If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

¹⁵For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

¹⁶Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

¹⁷And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

¹⁸And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

¹⁹Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

²⁰But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.