Job 11

¹Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:

²Shall not the multitude of words receive an answer? Shall the man of words be justified?

³Shall thy boastings make men hold their peace? Shalt thou mock, and none put thee to shame?

⁴Thou sayest, My speech is pure; I am clean in thine eyes, [O God!]

⁵But O that God would speak, And open his lips against thee;

⁶That he would show thee the secrets of his wisdom,—His wisdom, which is unsearchable! Then shouldst thou know that God forgiveth thee many of thine iniquities.

⁷Canst thou search out the deep things of God? Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection?

⁸‘Tis 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 apprehend, and bind, and bring to trial, Who shall oppose him?

¹¹For he knoweth the unrighteous; He seeth iniquity, when they do not observe it.

¹²But vain man is without understanding; Yea, man is born a wild ass’s colt.

¹³If thou direct thy heart, And stretch out thy hands, toward him;

¹⁴If thou put away iniquity from thy hand, And let not wickedness dwell in thy habitation,—

¹⁵Then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; Yea, thou shalt be steadfast, and have no fear.

¹⁶For thou shalt forget thy misery, Or remember it as waters that have passed away.

¹⁷Thy life shall be brighter than the noon-day; Now thou art in darkness, thou shalt then be as morning.

¹⁸Thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; Now thou art disappointed, thou shalt then rest in safety.

¹⁹Thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; And many shall make suit unto thee.

²⁰But the eyes of the wicked shall be wearied out; They shall find no refuge; Their hope is—the breathing forth of life.

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.