Job 11

Zophar Urges Job to Repent

11Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

²“Should not the multitude of words be answered?

And should ¹a man full of talk be vindicated?

³Should your empty talk make men ²hold their peace?

And when you mock, should no one rebuke you?

⁴For you have said,

^a‘My doctrine is pure,

And I am clean in your eyes.’

⁵But oh, that God would speak,

And open His lips against you,

⁶That He would show you the secrets of wisdom!

For they would double your prudence.

Know therefore that ^bGod ³exacts from you

Less than your iniquity deserves.

⁷“Can ^cyou search out the deep things of God?

Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?

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

Deeper than ⁴Sheol—what can you know?

⁹Their measure is longer than the earth

And broader than the sea.

¹⁰“If ^dHe passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment,

Then who can ⁵hinder Him?

¹¹For ^eHe knows deceitful men;

He sees wickedness also.

Will He not then consider it?

¹²For an ^fempty-headed man will be wise,

When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.

¹³“If you would ^gprepare your heart,

And ^hstretch out your hands toward Him;

¹⁴If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away,

And ⁱwould not let wickedness dwell in your tents;

^15jThen surely you could lift up your face without spot;

Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear;

¹⁶Because you would ^kforget your misery,

And remember it as waters that have passed away,

¹⁷And your life ^lwould be brighter than noonday.

Though you were dark, you would be like the morning.

¹⁸And you would be secure, because there is hope;

Yes, you would dig around you, and ^mtake your rest in safety.

¹⁹You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid;

Yes, many would court your favor.

²⁰But ⁿthe eyes of the wicked will fail,

And they shall not escape,

And ^otheir hope—⁶loss of life!”