Job 11

Zophar’s First Response to Job

1 Then ^{▼▼Hebrew “And”} Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

2 “Should an abundance of words go unanswered,
or ⌞a man full of talk⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “a man of lips”} be vindicated? ^{▼▼Hebrew “should he be vindicated”}
3 Should your loose talk put people to silence?
⌞And when you mock, shall no one put you to shame⌟? ^{▼▼Literally “And you will mock there is not putting to shame”}
4 For you say, ‘My teaching is pure,
and I am clean in your sight.’
5 But, ^{▼▼Hebrew “And but”} ⌞O that⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “who shall give”} God might speak,
and that he would open his lips to you,
6 and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom,
for ⌞insight has many sides⌟. ^{▼▼Literally “double to sound wisdom”}
And know that God ⌞on your behalf⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “for you”} has forgotten ⌞some of⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “from”} your guilt.
7 “Can you find out the essence of God,
or can you find out ⌞the ultimate limits⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “up to the limit”} of Shaddai?
8 ⌞It is higher than the heaven⌟; ^{▼▼Literally “heights of heaven”} what can you do?
It is 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 someone ^{▼▼Hebrew “and he imprisons”}
⌞and summons the assembly⌟, ^{▼▼Literally “and he summons”} then ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} who can hinder him?
11 For he knows ⌞those who are worthless⌟; ^{▼▼Literally “men of worthlessness”}
⌞when he sees⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “And he will see”} iniquity, ⌞he will not consider it⌟. ^{▼▼Literally “and he will not consider”}
12 But ^{▼▼Hebrew “And”} ⌞an empty-headed person⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “a man hollowed out”} will get understanding
when ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} a wild donkey’s colt is born as a human being.
13 “If you yourself ^{▼▼Emphatic personal pronoun} direct your heart
and stretch out your hands to him—
14 if iniquity ^{▼▼See v. 11, where the same word is used} is in your hand, put it far away,
and you must not let wickedness reside in your tents—
15 surely then you will lift up your face without ^{▼▼Hebrew “from”} blemish,
and you will be firmly established and will not fear. ^{▼▼Hebrew “and not will you fear”}
16 For you yourself ^{▼▼Emphatic personal pronoun} will forget your misery;
you will remember it as water that has flowed past.
17 “⌞And your life will be brighter than noon⌟; ^{▼▼Literally “And from noon lifespan will arise”}
its darkness will be like the morning.
18 And you will have confidence because there is hope;
and you will be well protected—⌞you will sleep in safety⌟. ^{▼▼Literally “you will lie down securely”}
19 And you will lie down, and ⌞no one will make you afraid⌟; ^{▼▼Literally “there is not making afraid”}
⌞and many will entreat your favor⌟. ^{▼▼Literally “and they will appease/implore your faces many”}
20 But ^{▼▼Hebrew “And”} the eyes of the wicked will fail;
and refuge will be lost to them,
and their hope is ⌞to breathe their last breath⌟.” ^{▼▼Literally “the expiring of soul”}