Job 11

¹ Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

² Should a flood of words go unanswered,
or should a talker be vindicated?

³ Will your babbling silence others?
Shall you mock, and no one shame you?

⁴ For you say, 'My teaching is pure,
and I am clean in your eyes.'

⁵ But oh, that God would speak,
that he would open his lips to you,

⁶ and tell you the secrets of wisdom —
for wisdom has two sides!
Know then that God exacts of you
less than your guilt deserves.

⁷ Can you search out the deep things of God?
Can you find the limits of the Almighty?

⁸ They are higher than heaven — what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol — what can you know?

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

¹⁰ If he passes through and imprisons
and convenes a court, who can oppose him?

¹¹ For he knows deceitful men;
he sees iniquity — will he not take note?

¹² But a hollow man will get understanding
when a wild donkey's colt is born human.

¹³ If you direct your heart aright
and stretch out your hands to him —

¹⁴ if iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
and let no injustice dwell in your tent —

¹⁵ then surely you will lift up your face free of blemish;
you will be steadfast and unafraid.

¹⁶ For you will forget your misery;
you will remember it as waters that have passed.

¹⁷ And your life will rise brighter than the noonday;
your darkness will be like the morning.

¹⁸ And you will trust, because there is hope;
you will look around and lie down in safety.

¹⁹ You will lie down, and none will frighten you,
and many will court your favor.

²⁰ But the eyes of the wicked will fail;
all escape will be lost to them,
and their hope: a last breath.