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11 Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,

“Shouldn’t the multitude of words be answered?
    Should a man full of talk be justified?
Should your boastings make men hold their peace?
    When you mock, will no man make you ashamed?
For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure.
    I am clean in your eyes.’
But oh that God would speak,
    and open his lips against you,
that 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.

“Can you fathom the mystery of God?
    Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
They are high as heaven. What can you do?
    They are deeper than Sheol.[a] What can you know?
Its measure is longer than the earth,
    and broader than the sea.
10 If he passes by, or confines,
    or convenes a court, then who can oppose him?
11 For he knows false men.
    He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn’t consider it.
12 An empty-headed man becomes wise
    when a man is born as a wild donkey’s colt.

13 “If you set your heart aright,
    stretch out your hands toward him.
14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away.
    Don’t let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.
15 Surely then you will lift up your face without spot;
    Yes, you will be steadfast, and will not fear:
16 for you will forget your misery.
    You will remember it like waters that have passed away.
17 Life will be clearer than the noonday.
    Though there is darkness, it will be as the morning.
18 You will be secure, because there is hope.
    Yes, you will search, and will take your rest in safety.
19 Also you will lie down, and no one will make you afraid.
    Yes, many will court your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail.
    They will have no way to flee.
    Their hope will be the giving up of the spirit.”

Footnotes

  1. 11:8 Sheol is the place of the dead.

Zophar

11 Then Zophar the Naamathite(A) replied:

“Are all these words to go unanswered?(B)
    Is this talker to be vindicated?(C)
Will your idle talk(D) reduce others to silence?
    Will no one rebuke you when you mock?(E)
You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless(F)
    and I am pure(G) in your sight.’
Oh, how I wish that God would speak,(H)
    that he would open his lips against you
and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,(I)
    for true wisdom has two sides.
    Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.(J)

“Can you fathom(K) the mysteries of God?
    Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
They are higher(L) than the heavens(M) above—what can you do?
    They are deeper than the depths below(N)—what can you know?(O)
Their measure(P) is longer than the earth
    and wider than the sea.(Q)

10 “If he comes along and confines you in prison
    and convenes a court, who can oppose him?(R)
11 Surely he recognizes deceivers;
    and when he sees evil, does he not take note?(S)
12 But the witless can no more become wise
    than a wild donkey’s colt(T) can be born human.[a](U)

13 “Yet if you devote your heart(V) to him
    and stretch out your hands(W) to him,(X)
14 if you put away(Y) the sin that is in your hand
    and allow no evil(Z) to dwell in your tent,(AA)
15 then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;(AB)
    you will stand firm(AC) and without fear.(AD)
16 You will surely forget your trouble,(AE)
    recalling it only as waters gone by.(AF)
17 Life will be brighter than noonday,(AG)
    and darkness will become like morning.(AH)
18 You will be secure, because there is hope;
    you will look about you and take your rest(AI) in safety.(AJ)
19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,(AK)
    and many will court your favor.(AL)
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,(AM)
    and escape will elude them;(AN)
    their hope will become a dying gasp.”(AO)

Footnotes

  1. Job 11:12 Or wild donkey can be born tame