1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:2‘Are all these words to go unanswered? Is this talker to be vindicated?3Will your idle talk reduce others to silence? Will no-one rebuke you when you mock?4You say to God, “My beliefs are flawless and I am pure in your sight.”5Oh, how I wish that God would speak, that he would open his lips against you6and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.7‘Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?8They are higher than the heavens above – what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below – what can you know?9Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.10‘If he comes along and confines you in prison and convenes a court, who can oppose him?11Surely he recognises deceivers; and when he sees evil, does he not take note?12But the witless can no more become wise than a wild donkey’s colt can be born human.[1]13‘Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him,14if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,15then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear.16You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by.17Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning.18You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.19You will lie down, with no-one to make you afraid, and many will court your favour.20But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; their hope will become a dying gasp.’
Job 11
King James Version
1Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,2Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?3Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?4For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.5But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;6And 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 .7Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?8It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?9The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.10If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?11For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it ?12For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass' colt.13If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;14If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.15For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:16Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:17And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.18And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.19Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.20But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.
1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: (Job 2:11)2“Should a multitude of words go unanswered, and a man full of talk be judged right? (Pr 10:19; Ec 5:3)3Should your babble silence men, and when you mock, shall no one shame you?4For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in God’s[1] eyes.’ (De 32:2; Job 10:7; Pr 4:2; Isa 29:24)5But oh, that God would speak and open his lips to you,6and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding.[2] Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves. (Ezr 9:13; Job 5:12)7“Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? (Job 5:9; Ps 145:3; Ec 3:11; Ec 8:17; Ro 11:33)8It is higher than heaven[3]—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? (Job 22:12; Ps 139:8)9Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.10If he passes through and imprisons and summons the court, who can turn him back? (Job 9:11; Job 9:12; Job 12:14; Job 23:13)11For he knows worthless men; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it? (Ps 26:4)12But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man! (Job 39:5; Ps 73:22; Ec 3:18)13“If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him. (1Sa 7:3; Ps 44:20; Ps 78:8; Ps 88:9; Ps 143:6)14If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents.15Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear. (Ge 4:5; Job 22:26; Job 31:7; Ps 119:6; 2Pe 3:14; 1Jo 3:21)16You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away. (Isa 65:16)17And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning. (Ps 37:6; Isa 58:8; Isa 58:10)18And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security. (Le 26:5; Ps 4:8; Pr 3:24; Isa 17:2; Zep 3:13)19You will lie down, and none will make you afraid; many will court your favor. (Job 11:18; Ps 45:12)20But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last.” (Job 17:5; Job 31:16; Jer 15:9)