Job, 11

1. Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

1. Zophar the Naamithite spoke:

2. Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

2. Must these words go unanswered? Must you be right for talking so much?

3. Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

3. Will your prattle keep us silent? Will no one answer your mocking?

4. For thou hast said, My doctrine [is] pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

4. You say to God that your way is right, that you are clean in his sight.

5. But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

5. How I wish that God would speak and open his lips against you,

6. And 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].

6. to show you the secrets of wisdom which put intelligence to shame, then you would know that God is recalling your sins.

7. Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

7. Can you fathom the mysteries of God, probe the extent of his perfection?

8. [It is] as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

8. It is higher than heaven - what can you do? Deeper than the world of death - what can you know?

9. The measure thereof [is] longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

9. Its measure is wider than the earth, broader than the sea.

10. If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

10. Who can stop him when he passes, when he imprisons and calls to judgment?

11. For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider [it]?

11. He sees evil; he recognizes deceit. Will he not then take note of it?

12. For vain man would be wise, though man be born [like] a wild ass's colt.

12. So stupid men learn to be wise as wild donkeys become tame.

13. If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

13. If you set your heart aright and stretch out your hands to him,

14. If iniquity [be] in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

14. if you wash your hand of sin and allow no evil in your tent,

15. For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

15. you will then raise your face in honor; having no fear, you will feel secure.

16. Because thou shalt forget [thy] misery, [and] remember [it] as waters [that] pass away:

16. You will forget your suffering and recall it only as waters gone by.

17. And [thine] age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

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

18. And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig [about thee, and] thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

18. You will be comforted, for there is hope; you will be protected when you sleep.

19. Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make [thee] afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

19. You will lie down with no one to fear; many will come to court your favor.

20. But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope [shall be as] the giving up of the ghost.

20. But the eyes of the wicked will fail; they will lose all way of escape, their one hope - that death will come.