Job 11:1–8

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

2 “Are all these words to go unanswered?

Is this talker to be vindicated?

3 Will your idle talk reduce others to silence?

Will no one rebuke you when you mock?

4 You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless

and I am pure in your sight.’

5 Oh, how I wish that God would speak,

that he would open his lips against you

6 and 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?

8 They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do?

They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know?

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2 Should not the multitude of words be answered?

And should a man full of talk be justified?

3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace?

And when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure,

And I am clean in thine eyes.

5 But oh that God would speak,

And open his lips against thee;

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 Canst thou by searching find out God?

Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do?

Deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied to Job:

2 “Shouldn’t someone answer this torrent of words?

Is a person proved innocent just by a lot of talking?

3 Should I remain silent while you babble on?

When you mock God, shouldn’t someone make you ashamed?

4 You claim, ‘My beliefs are pure,’

and ‘I am clean in the sight of God.’

5 If only God would speak;

if only he would tell you what he thinks!

6 If only he would tell you the secrets of wisdom,

for true wisdom is not a simple matter.

Listen! God is doubtless punishing you

far less than you deserve!

7 “Can you solve the mysteries of God?

Can you discover everything about the Almighty?

8 Such knowledge is higher than the heavens—

and who are you?

It is deeper than the underworld—

what do you know?

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

2 “Should not the multitude of words be answered?

And should a man full of talk be vindicated?

3 Should your empty talk make men hold their peace?

And when you mock, should no one rebuke you?

4 For you have said,

‘My doctrine is pure,

And I am clean in your eyes.’

5 But oh, that God would speak,

And open His lips against you,

6 That He would show you the secrets of wisdom!

For they would double your prudence.

Know therefore that God exacts from you

Less than your iniquity deserves.

7 “Can you search out the deep things of God?

Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?

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

Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:

2 “Should these words go unanswered?

Is this talker in the right?

3 Your lies do not make people quiet;

people should correct you when you make fun of God.

4 You say, ‘My teachings are right,

and I am clean in God’s sight.’

5 I wish God would speak

and open his lips against you

6 and tell you the secrets of wisdom,

because wisdom has two sides.

Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.

7 “Can you understand the secrets of God?

Can you search the limits of the Almighty?

8 His limits are higher than the heavens; you cannot reach them!

They are deeper than the grave; you cannot understand them!

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2 Should not the multitude of words be answered?

And should a man full of talk be justified?

3 Should thy boastings make men hold their peace?

And when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

4 For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure,

And I am clean in thine eyes.

5 But oh that God would speak,

And open his lips against thee,

6 And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom!

For he is manifold in understanding.

Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

7 Canst thou by searching find out God?

Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

8 It is high as heaven; what canst thou do?

Deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?

1 And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said, 2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man of much talk be justified? 3 Should thy fictions make men hold their peace? and shouldest thou mock, and no one make thee ashamed? 4 For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. 5 But oh that †God would speak, and open his lips against thee; 6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, how that they are the double of what is realised; and know that †God passeth by much of thine iniquity!

7 Canst thou by searching find out †God? canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection? 8 It is as the heights of heaven; what wilt thou do? deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?

1 Then Zophar from Naama replied ⸤to Job⸥, 

2 “Shouldn’t someone answer this flood of words? 

Should a good public speaker be acquitted? 

3 Should your empty talk silence others 

so that you can make fun of us without any shame? 

4 You say, ‘My teaching is morally correct,’ 

and, ‘As you can see, I’m innocent.’ 

5 I only wish God would speak 

and open his mouth ⸤to talk⸥ to you. 

6 He would tell you the secrets of wisdom, 

because ⸤true⸥ wisdom is twice ⸤as great as your wisdom⸥, 

and you would know that God forgets your sin. 

7 “Can you discover God’s hidden secrets, 

or are you able to find the Almighty’s limits? 

8 ⸤God’s wisdom is⸥ higher than heaven. 

What can you do? 

It is deeper than ⸤the depths⸥ of hell. 

What can you know? 

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

2 Should this stream of words go unanswered

and such a talker be acquitted?

3 Should your babbling put others to silence,

so that you can keep on ridiculing

with no one to humiliate you?

4 You have said, “My teaching is sound,

and I am pure in Your sight.”

5 But if only God would speak

and declare His case against you,

6 He would show you the secrets of wisdom,

for true wisdom has two sides.

Know then that God has chosen to overlook some of your sin.

7 Can you fathom the depths of God

or discover the limits of the Almighty?

8 They are higher than the heavens—what can you do?

They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:

2 “Should a multitude of words go unanswered,

and should one full of talk be vindicated?

3 Should your babble put others to silence,

and when you mock, shall no one shame you?

4 For you say, ‘My conduct is pure,

and I am clean in God’s sight.’

5 But O that God would speak

and open his lips to you

6 and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!

For wisdom is many-sided.

Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.

7 “Can you find out the deep things of God?

Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?

8 It is higher than heaven—what can you do?

Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

2 “Should an abundance of words go unanswered,

or a man full of talk be vindicated?

3 Should your loose talk put people to silence?

And when you mock, shall no one put you to shame?

4 For you say, ‘My teaching is pure,

and I am clean in your sight.’

5 But, O that God might speak,

and that he would open his lips to you,

6 and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom,

for insight has many sides.

And know that God on your behalf has forgotten some of your guilt.

7 “Can you find out the essence of God,

or can you find out the ultimate limits of Shaddai?

8 It is higher than the heaven; what can you do?

It is deeper than Sheol; what can you know?

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied,

2 “Don’t all of your words require an answer?

I’m sure that what you are saying can’t be right.

3 Your useless talk won’t keep us quiet.

Someone has to correct you when you make fun of truth.

4 You say to God, ‘My beliefs are perfect.

I’m pure in your sight.’

5 I wish God would speak.

I wish he’d answer you.

6 I wish he’d show you the secrets of wisdom.

After all, true wisdom has two sides.

Here’s what I want you to know.

God has forgotten some of your sins.

7 “Do you know how deep the mysteries of God are?

Can you discover the limits of the Mighty One’s knowledge?

8 They are higher than the heavens.

What can you do?

They are deeper than the deepest grave.

What can you know?

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

2 “Shall a multitude of words go unanswered,

And a talkative man be acquitted?

3 “Shall your boasts silence men?

And shall you scoff and none rebuke?

4 “For you have said, ‘My teaching is pure,

And I am innocent in your eyes.’

5 “But would that God might speak,

And open His lips against you,

6 And show you the secrets of wisdom!

For sound wisdom has two sides.

Know then that God forgets a part of your iniquity.

7 “Can you discover the depths of God?

Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?

8 “They are high as the heavens, what can you do?

Deeper than Sheol, what can you know?