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
Jubilee Bible 2000
11 ¶ 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?
3 Should thy lies make men be silent? Shalt thou mock, and shall no man make thee ashamed?
4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean before thine eyes.
5 But oh, that God would speak and open his lips against thee
6 and that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For thou dost deserve double according to sound wisdom; and thou dost know that God has forgotten thee because of thine iniquity.
7 ¶ Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou come unto the perfection of the Almighty?
8 It is higher than the heavens; what canst thou do? It is deeper than Sheol; how canst thou know it?
9 The measure of it is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.
10 If he cuts off, or shuts up, or gathers together, then who can hinder him?
11 For he knows the vain men; and he sees the iniquity; will he not then understand it?
12 The vain man shall make himself understood, though man is born like a wild ass’s colt.
13 ¶ If thou would prepare thine heart and stretch out thine hands toward him;
14 if there is any iniquity in thy hand and thou dost put it far away and dost not consent that wickedness dwell in thy habitations,
15 then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; thou shalt be strongly established and shalt not fear;
16 and thou shalt forget thy misery and remember it as waters that passed away;
17 and thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
18 And thou shalt trust because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig and sleep in safety;
19 thou shalt lie down, and no one shall make thee afraid; and many shall make requests unto thee.
20 But the eyes of the wicked shall consume themselves, and they shall have no refuge, and their hope shall be agony of the soul.
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