Job 11:1-18
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 11
1Then Zophar the Naamathite responded,
2'Shall a multitude of words go unanswered, And a talkative man be acquitted?
3Shall your boasts silence people? And will you scoff, and no one rebuke?
4For you have said, ‘My teaching is pure, And I am innocent in your eyes.’
5But if only God would speak, And open His lips against you,
6And show you the secrets of wisdom! For sound wisdom has two sides. Know then that God forgets part of your guilt.
7'Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are as high as the heavens; what can you do? Deeper than Sheol; what can you know?
9Its measurement is longer than the earth And broader than the sea.
10If He passes by or apprehends people, Or calls an assembly, who can restrain Him?
11For He knows false people, And He sees injustice without investigating.
12 An idiot will become intelligent When a wild donkey is born a human.
13'If you would direct your heart rightly And spread out your hands to Him,
14If wrongdoing is in your hand, put it far away, And do not let malice dwell in your tents;
15Then, indeed, you could lift up your face without moral blemish, And you would be firmly established and not fear.
16For you would forget your trouble; Like waters that have passed by, you would remember it.
17Your life would be brighter than noonday; Darkness would be like the morning.
18Then you would trust, because there is hope; And you would look around and rest securely.
King James Version
Chapter 11
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's 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.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 11
1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
2Should this abundance of words go unanswered and such a talker be acquitted?
3Should your babbling put others to silence, so that you can keep on ridiculing with no one to humiliate you?
4You have said, "My teaching is sound, and I am pure in your sight."
5But if only God would speak and open his lips against you!
6He would show you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God has chosen to overlook some of your iniquity.
7Can you fathom the depths of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?
8They are higher than the heavens--what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol--what can you know?
9Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
10If he passes by and throws someone in prison or convenes a court, who can stop him?
11Surely he knows which people are worthless. If he sees iniquity, will he not take note of it?
12But a stupid person will gain understanding as soon as a wild donkey is born a human!
13As for you, if you redirect your heart and spread out your hands to him in prayer --
14if there is iniquity in your hand, remove it, and don't allow injustice to dwell in your tents --
15then you will hold your head high, free from fault. You will be firmly established and unafraid.
16For you will forget your suffering, recalling it only as water that has flowed by.
17Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.
New Living Translation
Chapter 11
1Then 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?
3Should I remain silent while you babble on? When you mock God, shouldn’t someone make you ashamed?
4You claim, ‘My beliefs are pure,’ and ‘I am clean in the sight of God.’
5If only God would speak; if only he would tell you what he thinks!
6If 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?
8Such knowledge is higher than the heavens — and who are you? It is deeper than the underworld — what do you know?
9It is broader than the earth and wider than the sea.
10If God comes and puts a person in prison or calls the court to order, who can stop him?
11For he knows those who are false, and he takes note of all their sins.
12An empty-headed person won’t become wise any more than a wild donkey can bear a human child.
13'If only you would prepare your heart and lift up your hands to him in prayer!
14Get rid of your sins, and leave all iniquity behind you.
15Then your face will brighten with innocence. You will be strong and free of fear.
16You will forget your misery; it will be like water flowing away.
17Your life will be brighter than the noonday. Even darkness will be as bright as morning.
18Having hope will give you courage. You will be protected and will rest in safety.
English Standard Version
2“Should a multitude of words go unanswered, and a man full of talk be judged right?
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 eyes.’
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. 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?
8It is higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
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?
11For he knows worthless men; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?
12But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man!
13“If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him.
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.
16You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away.
17And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.
18And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security.
New International Version
Chapter 11
1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
2Are 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 you
6and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.
7Can 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.
10If he comes along and confines you in prison and convenes a court, who can oppose him?
11Surely he recognizes 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.
13Yet 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.
New King James Version
2“Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be vindicated?
3Should your empty talk make men hold their peace? And when you mock, should no one rebuke you?
4For you have said, ‘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 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?
9Their measure is longer than the earth And broader than the sea.
10“If He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment, Then who can hinder Him?
11For He knows deceitful men; He sees wickedness also. Will He not then consider it?
12For an empty-headed man will be wise, When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.
13“If you would prepare your heart, And stretch out your hands toward Him;
14If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away, And would not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
15 Then surely you could lift up your face without spot; Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear;
16Because you would forget your misery, And remember it as waters that have passed away,
17And your life would 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 take your rest in safety.
