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Job 11

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered: "Should a flood of words go unanswered? Should a man be proved right just because he talks a lot? Should your lies silence everyone? Should you mock and have no one make you ashamed? For you have said, 'My teaching is pure, and I am clean in your eyes.'

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Zophar's first answer

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered: "Should a flood of words go unanswered? Should a man be proved right just because he talks a lot? Should your lies silence everyone? Should you mock and have no one make you ashamed? For you have said, 'My teaching is pure, and I am clean in your eyes.' But if only God would speak and open his lips against you, If only he would show you the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to what is! Know this: God exacts from you less than your wrongdoing deserves. Can you discover the deep things of God? Can you find the Almighty out to perfection? They are as high as heaven — what can you do? Deeper than hell — what can you know? Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea. If he cuts off, shuts up or gathers together, who can stop him? He knows vain men. He sees wickedness too; will he not consider it? A vain man wants to be wise, though man is born like a wild donkey's colt. If you prepare your heart and stretch out your hands towards him, if wrongdoing is in your hand, put it far away, and don't let wickedness live in your tents. Then you will lift up your face without spot; yes, you will be steadfast and will not fear. You will forget your misery and remember it as waters that pass away. Your age will be clearer than the noonday. You will shine forth and be as the morning. You will be secure because there is hope. You will look around you and lie down safely. You will also lie down, and no one will make you afraid; yes, many will seek your favour. But the eyes of the wicked will fail. They will have no escape, and their hope will be like giving up the ghost."

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered: Shouldn't all these words be answered? And should a man full of talk be counted right? Should your lies make men hold their peace? And when you sneer, will nobody make you ashamed? Because you've said: My teaching is pure, and I'm clean in your eyes. But if only God would speak and open his lips against you, and show you the secrets of wisdom, that they're double what you know. So know that God asks less of you than what you've done wrong deserves. Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the Almighty right to the end? It's as high as heaven — what can you do? It's deeper than the grave — what can you know? Its measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. If he cuts off and shuts up or gathers together, then who can turn him back? Because he knows empty men. He sees wickedness too — won't he think about it then? But an empty-headed man would be wise, though man is born like a wild donkey's colt. If you set your heart right and stretch out your hands to him — if wrongdoing is in your hand, put it far off, and don't let wickedness live in your tents. Then you'll lift up your face without a spot. Yes, you'll be steady and won't be frightened. Because you'll forget your trouble and remember it like waters that have gone past. And your life will be clearer than noon. You'll shine out. You'll be like the morning. And you'll be safe, because there's hope. Yes, you'll look about you and take your rest safely. You'll lie down too, and nobody will frighten you. Yes, plenty will look for your favour. But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and they won't get away, and their hope will be like giving up the ghost.

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee; And 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. Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him? For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it? For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt. If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him; If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear: Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away: And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday: thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety. Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee. But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.

1

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:

King James Version, 1611

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2

"Should a flood of words go unanswered? Should a man be proved right just because he talks a lot?

Plain English

Shouldn't all these words be answered? And should a man full of talk be counted right?

King James Version, 1611

Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

3

Should your lies silence everyone? Should you mock and have no one make you ashamed?

Plain English

Should your lies make men hold their peace? And when you sneer, will nobody make you ashamed?

King James Version, 1611

Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

4

For you have said, 'My teaching is pure, and I am clean in your eyes.'

Plain English

Because you've said: My teaching is pure, and I'm clean in your eyes.

King James Version, 1611

For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

5

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

King James Version, 1611

But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

6

If only he would show you the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to what is! Know this: God exacts from you less than your wrongdoing deserves.

Plain English

and show you the secrets of wisdom, that they're double what you know. So know that God asks less of you than what you've done wrong deserves.

King James Version, 1611

And 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.

7

Can you discover the deep things of God? Can you find the Almighty out to perfection?

Plain English

Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the Almighty right to the end?

King James Version, 1611

Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

8

They are as high as heaven — what can you do? Deeper than hell — what can you know?

Plain English

It's as high as heaven — what can you do? It's deeper than the grave — what can you know?

King James Version, 1611

It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

9

Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.

Plain English

Its measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

King James Version, 1611

The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

10

If he cuts off, shuts up or gathers together, who can stop him?

Plain English

If he cuts off and shuts up or gathers together, then who can turn him back?

King James Version, 1611

If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

11

He knows vain men. He sees wickedness too; will he not consider it?

Plain English

Because he knows empty men. He sees wickedness too — won't he think about it then?

King James Version, 1611

For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

12

A vain man wants to be wise, though man is born like a wild donkey's colt.

Plain English

But an empty-headed man would be wise, though man is born like a wild donkey's colt.

King James Version, 1611

For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.

13

If you prepare your heart and stretch out your hands towards him,

Plain English

If you set your heart right and stretch out your hands to him —

King James Version, 1611

If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

14

if wrongdoing is in your hand, put it far away, and don't let wickedness live in your tents.

Plain English

if wrongdoing is in your hand, put it far off, and don't let wickedness live in your tents.

King James Version, 1611

If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

15

Then you will lift up your face without spot; yes, you will be steadfast and will not fear.

Plain English

Then you'll lift up your face without a spot. Yes, you'll be steady and won't be frightened.

King James Version, 1611

For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

16

You will forget your misery and remember it as waters that pass away.

Plain English

Because you'll forget your trouble and remember it like waters that have gone past.

King James Version, 1611

Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

17

Your age will be clearer than the noonday. You will shine forth and be as the morning.

Plain English

And your life will be clearer than noon. You'll shine out. You'll be like the morning.

King James Version, 1611

And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday: thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

18

You will be secure because there is hope. You will look around you and lie down safely.

Plain English

And you'll be safe, because there's hope. Yes, you'll look about you and take your rest safely.

King James Version, 1611

And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

19

You will also lie down, and no one will make you afraid; yes, many will seek your favour.

Plain English

You'll lie down too, and nobody will frighten you. Yes, plenty will look for your favour.

King James Version, 1611

Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

20

But the eyes of the wicked will fail. They will have no escape, and their hope will be like giving up the ghost."

Plain English

But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and they won't get away, and their hope will be like giving up the ghost.

King James Version, 1611

But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.