Job 11

Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

2  "Should a multitude of words go unanswered,
and a man full of talk be judged right?
3  Should your babble silence men,
and when you mock, shall no one shame you?
4  For you say, 'My doctrine is pure,
and I am clean in God'st eyes.'
5  But oh, that God would speak
and open his lips to you,
6  and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!
For he is manifold in understanding.t
Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.

7  "Can you find out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
8  It is higher than heavent—what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
9  Its measure is longer than the earth
and broader than the sea.
10  If he passes through and imprisons
and summons the court, who can turn him back?
11  For he knows worthless men;
when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?
12  But a stupid man will get understanding
when a wild donkey's colt is born a man!

13  "If you prepare your heart,
you will stretch out your hands toward him.
14  If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
and let not injustice dwell in your tents.
15  Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish;
you will be secure and will not fear.
16  You will forget your misery;
you will remember it as waters that have passed away.
17  And your life will be brighter than the noonday;
its darkness will be like the morning.
18  And you will feel secure, because there is hope;
you will look around and take your rest in security.
19  You will lie down, and none will make you afraid;
many will court your favor.
20  But the eyes of the wicked will fail;
all way of escape will be lost to them,
and their hope is to breathe their last."

Job 11

Zophar’s First Speech to Job

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite spoke up and said:

2 “Should not thisst abundance of words be answered,t
or should thist talkative mant
be vindicated?t

3 Will your idle talkt reduce people to silence,t
and will no one rebuket you when you mock?t

4 For you have said, ‘My teachingt is flawless,
and I am pure in your sight.’

5 But if only God would speak,t
if only he would open his lips against you,s

6 and reveal to you the secrets of wisdom –
for true wisdom has two sidest –
so that you would knowt
that God has forgiven some of your sins.t

7 “Can you discovert the essencet of God?
Can you find outt
the perfection of the Almighty?t

8 It is highert than the heavens – what can you do?
It is deeper than Sheolt – what can you know?

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

10 If he comes byt and confinest yout
and convenes a court,t
then who can preventt him?

11 For het knows deceitfult men;
when he sees evil, will he nott consider it?t

12 But an empty man will become wise,
when a wild donkey’s colt is born a human being.t

13 “As for you,t if you prove faithful,t
and ift you stretch out your hands toward him,s

14 ift iniquity is in your hand – put it far away,t
and do not let evil reside in your tents.

15 Fort then you will lift up your face
withoutt blemish;t
you will be securely establishedt
and will not fear.

16 For yout will forget your trouble;s
you will remember it
like water thatt has flowed away.

17 And lifet will be brightert than the noonday;
though there be darkness,t
it will be like the morning.

18 And you will be secure, because there is hope;
you will be protectedt
and will take your rest in safety.

19 You will lie down witht no one to make you afraid,
and many will seek your favor.t

20 But the eyes of the wicked fail,t
and escapet eludes them;
their one hopet is to breathe their last.”t