Job 11

Zophar Rebukes Job

¹ Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

² “Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?

³ Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke?

⁴ You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.’

⁵ But if only God would speak and open His lips against you,

⁶ and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.

⁷ Can you fathom the deep things 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?

⁹ Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

¹⁰ If He comes along to imprison you, or convenes a court, who can stop Him?

¹¹ Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?

¹² But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man!¹

¹³ As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him,

¹⁴ if you put away the iniquity in your hand, and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents,

¹⁵ then indeed you will lift up your face without blemish; you will stand firm and unafraid.

¹⁶ For you will forget your misery, recalling it only as waters gone by.

¹⁷ Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.

¹⁸ You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety.

¹⁹ You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor.

²⁰ But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”