Job 11
Zophar begins his first speech, rebuking Job for his many words and insisting that God is exacting less punishment than Job's iniquity deserves. He declares that the wisdom of God is higher than heaven and deeper than hell, and urges Job to repent.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, | Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: |
| 2 | Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? | "Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be justified? |
| 3 | Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? | Should your lies make men hold their peace? And when you mock, shall no man make you ashamed? |
| 4 | For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. | For you have said, 'My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in your eyes.' |
| 5 | But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee; | But oh that God would speak, and open His lips against you, |
| 6 | 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. | and that he would show you the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves. |
| 7 | Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? | Can You by searching find out God? Can You find out the Almighty to perfection? |
| 8 | It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? | It is as high as heaven; what can You do? Deeper than hell; what can You know? |
| 9 | The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. | The measure of it is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. |
| 10 | If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him? | If He cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder Him? |
| 11 | For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it? | For He knows vain men; He sees wickedness also; will He not then consider it? |
| 12 | For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt. | For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt. |
| 13 | If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him; | If You prepare Your heart, and stretch out Your hands toward Him; |
| 14 | If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. | if iniquity be in Your hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in Your tabernacles. |
| 15 | For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear: | For then shall You lift up Your face without spot; yes, You shall be stedfast, and shall not fear. |
| 16 | Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away: | Because You shall forget Your misery, and remember it as waters that pass away. |
| 17 | And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. | And Your age shall be clearer than the noonday; You shall shine forth, You shall be as the morning. |
| 18 | And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety. | And You shall be secure, because there is hope; yes, You shall dig about You, and You shall take Your rest in safety. |
| 19 | Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee. | Also You shall lie down, and none shall make You afraid; yes, many shall make suit to You. |
| 20 | 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. | 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." |