Job 11

Zophar

Then Zophar the Naamathite^a replied:

“Are all these words to go unanswered?^b

Is this talker to be vindicated?^c

Will your idle talk^d reduce others to silence?

Will no one rebuke you when you mock?^e

You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless^f

and I am pure^g in your sight.’

Oh, how I wish that God would speak,^h

that he would open his lips against you

and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,ⁱ

for true wisdom has two sides.

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

“Can you fathom^k the mysteries of God?

Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

They are higher^l than the heavens^m above—what can you do?

They are deeper than the depths belowⁿ—what can you know?^o

Their measure^p is longer than the earth

and wider than the sea.^q

“If he comes along and confines you in prison

and convenes a court, who can oppose him?^r

Surely he recognizes deceivers;

and when he sees evil, does he not take note?^s

But the witless can no more become wise

than a wild donkey’s colt^t can be born a human being.^u

“Yet if you devote your heart^v to him

and stretch out your hands^w to him,^x

if you put away^y the sin that is in your hand

and allow no evil^z to dwell in your tent,^a

then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;^b

you will stand firm^c and without fear.^d

You will surely forget your trouble,^e

recalling it only as waters gone by.^f

Life will be brighter than noonday,^g

and darkness will become like morning.^h

You will be secure, because there is hope;

you will look about you and take your restⁱ in safety.^j

You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,^k

and many will court your favor.^l

But the eyes of the wicked will fail,^m

and escape will elude them;ⁿ

their hope will become a dying gasp.”^o