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11 And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

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

Should thy fictions make men hold their peace? and shouldest thou mock, and no one make [thee] ashamed?

For thou sayest, 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, how that they are the double of what is realised; and know that +God passeth by [much] of thine iniquity!

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

[It is as] the heights of heaven; what wilt thou do? deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?

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

10 If he pass by, and shut up, and call to judgment, who can hinder him?

11 For he knoweth vain men, and seeth wickedness when [man] doth not consider it;

12 Yet a senseless man will make bold, though man be born [like] the foal of a wild ass.

13 If thou prepare thy heart and stretch out thy hands toward him,

14 If thou put far away the iniquity which is in thy hand, and let not wrong dwell in thy tents;

15 Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shalt be stedfast and shalt not fear:

16 For thou shalt forget misery; as waters that are passed away shalt thou remember it;

17 And life shall arise brighter than noonday; though thou be enshrouded in darkness, thou shalt be as the morning,

18 And thou shalt have confidence, because there shall be hope; and having searched about [thee], thou shalt take rest in safety.

19 Yea, thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; and many shall seek thy favour.

20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and [all] refuge shall vanish from them, and their hope [shall be] the breathing out of life.

12 And Job answered and said,

Truly ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you!

I also have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you; and who knoweth not such things as these?

I am to be one that is a derision to his friend, I who call upon +God, and whom he will answer: a derision is the just upright [man].

He that is ready to stumble with the foot is a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

The tents of desolators are in peace, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand +God bringeth.

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowl of the heavens, and they shall tell thee;

Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

Who knoweth not in all these, that the hand of Jehovah hath wrought this?

10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all flesh of man.

11 Doth not the ear try words, as the palate tasteth food?

12 With the aged is wisdom, and in length of days understanding.

13 With him is wisdom and might; he hath counsel and understanding.

14 Behold, he breaketh down, and it is not built again; he shutteth up a man, and there is no opening.

15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; and he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

16 With him is strength and effectual knowledge; the deceived and the deceiver are his.

17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and judges maketh he fools;

18 He weakeneth the government of kings, and bindeth their loins with a fetter;

19 He leadeth priests away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty;

20 He depriveth of speech the trusty, and taketh away the judgment of the elders;

21 He poureth contempt upon nobles, and slackeneth the girdle of the mighty;

22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out into light the shadow of death;

23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; he spreadeth out the nations, and bringeth them in;

24 He taketh away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a pathless waste.

25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunkard.

13 Lo, mine eye hath seen all [this], mine ear hath heard and understood it.

What ye know, I know also: I am not inferior to you.

But I will speak to the Almighty, and will find pleasure in reasoning with God;

For ye indeed are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

Oh that ye would be altogether silent! and it would be your wisdom.

Hear now my defence, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

Will ye speak unrighteously for God? and for him speak deceit?

Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?

Will it be well if he should search you out? or as one mocketh at a man, will ye mock at him?

10 He will certainly reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.

11 Shall not his excellency terrify you? and his dread fall upon you?

12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, your bulwarks are bulwarks of mire.

13 Hold your peace from me, and I will speak, and let come on me what [will]!

14 Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?

15 Behold, if he slay me, yet would I trust in him; but I will defend mine own ways before him.

16 This also shall be my salvation, that a profane man shall not come before his face.

17 Hear attentively my speech and my declaration with your ears.

18 Behold now, I have ordered the cause; I know that I shall be justified.

19 Who is he that contendeth with me? For if I were silent now, I should expire.

20 Only do not two things unto me; then will I not hide myself from thee.

21 Withdraw thy hand far from me; and let not thy terror make me afraid:

22 Then call, and I will answer; or I will speak, and answer thou me.

23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.

24 Wherefore dost thou hide thy face, and countest me for thine enemy?

25 Wilt thou terrify a driven leaf? and wilt thou pursue dry stubble?

26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth;

27 And thou puttest my feet in the stocks, and markest all my paths; thou settest a bound about the soles of my feet;—

28 One who, as a rotten thing consumeth, as a garment that the moth eateth.

Zophar

11 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 below(N)—what can you know?(O)
Their measure(P) is longer than the earth
    and wider than the sea.(Q)

10 “If he comes along and confines you in prison
    and convenes a court, who can oppose him?(R)
11 Surely he recognizes deceivers;
    and when he sees evil, does he not take note?(S)
12 But the witless can no more become wise
    than a wild donkey’s colt(T) can be born human.[a](U)

13 “Yet if you devote your heart(V) to him
    and stretch out your hands(W) to him,(X)
14 if you put away(Y) the sin that is in your hand
    and allow no evil(Z) to dwell in your tent,(AA)
15 then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;(AB)
    you will stand firm(AC) and without fear.(AD)
16 You will surely forget your trouble,(AE)
    recalling it only as waters gone by.(AF)
17 Life will be brighter than noonday,(AG)
    and darkness will become like morning.(AH)
18 You will be secure, because there is hope;
    you will look about you and take your rest(AI) in safety.(AJ)
19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,(AK)
    and many will court your favor.(AL)
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,(AM)
    and escape will elude them;(AN)
    their hope will become a dying gasp.”(AO)

Job

12 Then Job replied:

“Doubtless you are the only people who matter,
    and wisdom will die with you!(AP)
But I have a mind as well as you;
    I am not inferior to you.
    Who does not know all these things?(AQ)

“I have become a laughingstock(AR) to my friends,(AS)
    though I called on God and he answered(AT)
    a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!(AU)
Those who are at ease have contempt(AV) for misfortune
    as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.(AW)
The tents of marauders are undisturbed,(AX)
    and those who provoke God are secure(AY)
    those God has in his hand.[b]

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,(AZ)
    or the birds in the sky,(BA) and they will tell you;(BB)
or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
    or let the fish in the sea inform you.
Which of all these does not know(BC)
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?(BD)
10 In his hand is the life(BE) of every creature
    and the breath of all mankind.(BF)
11 Does not the ear test words
    as the tongue tastes food?(BG)
12 Is not wisdom found among the aged?(BH)
    Does not long life bring understanding?(BI)

13 “To God belong wisdom(BJ) and power;(BK)
    counsel and understanding are his.(BL)
14 What he tears down(BM) cannot be rebuilt;(BN)
    those he imprisons cannot be released.(BO)
15 If he holds back the waters,(BP) there is drought;(BQ)
    if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.(BR)
16 To him belong strength and insight;(BS)
    both deceived and deceiver are his.(BT)
17 He leads rulers away stripped(BU)
    and makes fools of judges.(BV)
18 He takes off the shackles(BW) put on by kings
    and ties a loincloth[c] around their waist.(BX)
19 He leads priests away stripped(BY)
    and overthrows officials long established.(BZ)
20 He silences the lips of trusted advisers
    and takes away the discernment of elders.(CA)
21 He pours contempt on nobles(CB)
    and disarms the mighty.(CC)
22 He reveals the deep things of darkness(CD)
    and brings utter darkness(CE) into the light.(CF)
23 He makes nations great, and destroys them;(CG)
    he enlarges nations,(CH) and disperses them.(CI)
24 He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason;(CJ)
    he makes them wander in a trackless waste.(CK)
25 They grope in darkness with no light;(CL)
    he makes them stagger like drunkards.(CM)

13 “My eyes have seen all this,(CN)
    my ears have heard and understood it.
What you know, I also know;
    I am not inferior to you.(CO)
But I desire to speak to the Almighty(CP)
    and to argue my case with God.(CQ)
You, however, smear me with lies;(CR)
    you are worthless physicians,(CS) all of you!(CT)
If only you would be altogether silent!(CU)
    For you, that would be wisdom.(CV)
Hear now my argument;
    listen to the pleas of my lips.(CW)
Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?
    Will you speak deceitfully for him?(CX)
Will you show him partiality?(CY)
    Will you argue the case for God?
Would it turn out well if he examined you?(CZ)
    Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?(DA)
10 He would surely call you to account
    if you secretly showed partiality.(DB)
11 Would not his splendor(DC) terrify you?
    Would not the dread of him fall on you?(DD)
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
    your defenses are defenses of clay.(DE)

13 “Keep silent(DF) and let me speak;(DG)
    then let come to me what may.(DH)
14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy
    and take my life in my hands?(DI)
15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope(DJ) in him;(DK)
    I will surely[d] defend my ways to his face.(DL)
16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,(DM)
    for no godless(DN) person would dare come before him!(DO)
17 Listen carefully to what I say;(DP)
    let my words ring in your ears.
18 Now that I have prepared my case,(DQ)
    I know I will be vindicated.(DR)
19 Can anyone bring charges against me?(DS)
    If so, I will be silent(DT) and die.(DU)

20 “Only grant me these two things, God,
    and then I will not hide from you:
21 Withdraw your hand(DV) far from me,
    and stop frightening me with your terrors.(DW)
22 Then summon me and I will answer,(DX)
    or let me speak, and you reply to me.(DY)
23 How many wrongs and sins have I committed?(DZ)
    Show me my offense and my sin.(EA)
24 Why do you hide your face(EB)
    and consider me your enemy?(EC)
25 Will you torment(ED) a windblown leaf?(EE)
    Will you chase(EF) after dry chaff?(EG)
26 For you write down bitter things against me
    and make me reap the sins of my youth.(EH)
27 You fasten my feet in shackles;(EI)
    you keep close watch on all my paths(EJ)
    by putting marks on the soles of my feet.

28 “So man wastes away like something rotten,
    like a garment(EK) eaten by moths.(EL)

Footnotes

  1. Job 11:12 Or wild donkey can be born tame
  2. Job 12:6 Or those whose god is in their own hand
  3. Job 12:18 Or shackles of kings / and ties a belt
  4. Job 13:15 Or He will surely slay me; I have no hope — / yet I will