Job 11
New Catholic Bible
Zophar’s First Speech[a]
Chapter 11
God Recognizes the Deceitful. 1 Then Zophar the Naamathite responded:
2 “Should we allow this torrent of words to go unanswered?
Is a clever speaker always to be considered right?
3 Should your endless talk reduce others to silence?
When you mock, is no one allowed to refute you?
4 For you said, ‘My judgments are irrefutable
and I am blameless in the sight of God.’
5 Oh, how I wish that God would speak
and open his lips to contradict your opinions
6 while revealing to you the secrets of wisdom,
which puts human intelligence to shame.
Thus, you might know
that God will call you to account for your sin.
7 “Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
Can you attain to the perfection of the Almighty?
8 It is higher than the heavens—what can you do?
It is deeper than the netherworld—what can you know?
9 Its measure is longer than the earth
and broader than the sea.
10 “If while passing by he decides to imprison you
or subject you to judgment, who can prevent him?
11 He surely recognizes the deceitful;
he will hardly ignore their iniquity.
12 An ignorant fool can no more gain understanding
than a wild donkey can be domesticated.
Stretch Out Your Hands toward God[b]
13 “However, if you will have a change of heart
and stretch out your hands toward him in prayer,
14 if you banish all iniquity far away from you
and do not allow wickedness to penetrate your tent,
15 you will then be able to lift up your face in innocence;
you will be unwavering and without fear.
16 You will then forget your wretchedness,
remembering it only as flood waters gone by.
17 “Then your life will be brighter than noonday,
and its darkness will be like morning.
18 You will be filled with confidence because there is hope;
you will look around and take your rest in safety.
19 You will lie down without fearing anyone,
and many will seek your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail;
for them all the ways of escape will be closed,
and all they can hope for is death.”
Job 11
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
Zophar Speaks
11 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
2 Should this abundance of words(A) go unanswered
and such a talker[a] be acquitted?
3 Should your babbling put others to silence,
so that you can keep on ridiculing
with no one to humiliate you?
4 You have said, ‘My teaching(B) is sound,
and I am pure in your sight.’
5 But if only God would speak
and open his lips against you!
6 He would show you the secrets of wisdom,(C)
for true wisdom has two sides.
Know then that God has chosen to overlook some of your iniquity.(D)
7 Can you fathom the depths of God
or discover the limits of the Almighty?(E)
8 They are higher than the heavens – what can you do?
They are deeper than Sheol – what can you know?(F)
9 Their measure is longer than the earth
and wider than the sea.
10 If he passes by and throws someone in prison
or convenes a court, who can stop him?(G)
11 Surely he knows which people are worthless.
If he sees iniquity, will he not take note of it?(H)
12 But a stupid person will gain understanding
as soon as a wild donkey is born a human!
13 As for you, if you redirect your heart
and spread out your hands to him in prayer –
14 if there is iniquity in your hand, remove it,
and don’t allow injustice to dwell in your tents –
15 then you will hold your head high, free from fault.
You will be firmly established and unafraid.(I)
16 For you will forget your suffering,
recalling it only as water that has flowed by.
17 Your life will be brighter than noonday;
its darkness[b] will be like the morning.(J)
18 You will be confident, because there is hope.(K)
You will look carefully about and lie down in safety.(L)
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