Job 11

Zophar’s First Response to Job

11Then^a Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

²“Should an abundance of words go unanswered,

or a man full of talk^b be vindicated?^c

³Should your loose talk put people to silence?

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

⁴For you say, ‘My teaching is pure,

and I am clean in your sight.’

⁵But,^e O that^f God might speak,

and that he would open his lips to you,

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

for insight has many sides.^g

And know that God on your behalf^h has forgotten some ofⁱ your guilt.

⁷“Can you find out the essence of God,

or can you find out the ultimate limits^j of Shaddai?

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

It is deeper than Sheol; what can you know?

⁹Its measure is longer than the earth

and broader than the sea.

¹⁰“If he passes through and imprisons someone^l

and summons the assembly,^m thenⁿ who can hinder him?

¹¹For he knows those who are worthless;^o

when he sees^p iniquity, he will not consider it.^q

¹²But^r an empty-headed person^s will get understanding

when^t a wild donkey’s colt is born as a human being.

¹³“If you yourself^u direct your heart

and stretch out your hands to him—

¹⁴if iniquity^v is in your hand, put it far away,

and you must not let wickedness reside in your tents—

¹⁵surely then you will lift up your face without^w blemish,

and you will be firmly established and will not fear.^x

¹⁶For you yourself^y will forget your misery;

you will remember it as water that has flowed past.

¹⁷“And your life will be brighter than noon;^z

its darkness will be like the morning.

¹⁸And you will have confidence because there is hope;

and you will be well protected—you will sleep in safety.^a

¹⁹And you will lie down, and no one will make you afraid;^b

and many will entreat your favor.^c

²⁰But^d the eyes of the wicked will fail;

and refuge will be lost to them,

and their hope is to breathe their last breath.”^e