Job 11

Berean Standard Bible

¹Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

¹Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,

²“Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?

²“Shouldn’t the multitude of words be answered? Should a man full of talk be justified?

³Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke?

³Should your boastings make men hold their peace? When you mock, will no man make you ashamed?

⁴You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.’

⁴For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure. I am clean in your eyes.’

⁵But if only God would speak and open His lips against you,

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

⁶and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.

⁶that he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For true wisdom has two sides. Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.

⁷Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?

⁷“Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

⁸They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

⁸They are high as heaven. What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol. What can you know?

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

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

¹⁰If He comes along to imprison you, or convenes a court, who can stop Him?

¹⁰If he passes by, or confines, or convenes a court, then who can oppose him?

¹¹Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?

¹¹For he knows false men. He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn’t consider it.

¹²But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man!

¹²An empty-headed man becomes wise when a man is born as a wild donkey’s colt.

¹³As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him,

¹³“If you set your heart aright, stretch out your hands toward him.

¹⁴if you put away the iniquity in your hand, and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents,

¹⁴If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away. Don’t let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.

¹⁵then indeed you will lift up your face without blemish; you will stand firm and unafraid.

¹⁵Surely then you will lift up your face without spot. Yes, you will be steadfast, and will not fear,

¹⁶For you will forget your misery, recalling it only as waters gone by.

¹⁶for you will forget your misery. You will remember it like waters that have passed away.

¹⁷Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.

¹⁷Life will be clearer than the noonday. Though there is darkness, it will be as the morning.

¹⁸You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety.

¹⁸You will be secure, because there is hope. Yes, you will search, and will take your rest in safety.

¹⁹You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor.

¹⁹Also you will lie down, and no one will make you afraid. Yes, many will court your favor.

²⁰But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”

²⁰But the eyes of the wicked will fail. They will have no way to flee. Their hope will be the giving up of the spirit.”