Job, 11

1. Zophar of Naamath spoke next. He said:

1. Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2. Is babbling to go without an answer? Is wordiness a proof of uprightness?

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

3. Do you think your talking strikes people dumb, will you jeer with no one to refute you?

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

4. These were your words, 'My conduct is pure, in your eyes I am free of blame!'

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

5. Will no one let God speak, open his lips and give you answer,

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

6. show you the secrets of wisdom which put all cleverness to shame? Then you would realise that God is calling you to account for your sin.

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].

7. Can you claim to fathom the depth of God, can you reach the limit of Shaddai?

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

8. It is higher than the heavens: what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol: what can you know?

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

9. It would be longer to measure than the earth and broader than the sea.

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

10. If he intervenes to close or convoke the assembly, who is to prevent him?

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

11. He knows how deceptive human beings are, and he sees their misdeeds too, and marks them well.

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

12. Hence empty-headed people would do well to study sense and people who behave like wild donkeys to let themselves be tamed.

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

13. Come, reconsider your attitude, stretch out your hands towards him!

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

14. If you repudiate the sin which you have doubtless committed and do not allow wickedness to live on in your tents,

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

15. you will be able to raise an unsullied face, unwavering and free from fear,

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

16. for you will forget about your misery, thinking of it only as a flood that passed long ago.

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

17. Then begins an existence more radiant than noon, and the very darkness will be bright as morning.

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

18. Confident because there is hope; after your troubles, you will sleep secure.

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

19. When you lie down to rest, no one will trouble you, and many will seek your favour.

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

20. But as for the wicked, their eyes are weary, there is no refuge for them; their only hope is to breathe their last.

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.