Job 11

Evangelical Heritage Version

² Doesn’t this gush of words call for an answer?
Can this man’s bold talk be justified?
³ Should your empty words reduce men to silence?
Can you be allowed to scoff without anyone putting you in your place?
⁴ You say, “What I teach is untainted,
and I am pure in your eyes.”
⁵ Oh how I wish that God would speak up,
open his lips against you,
⁶ and show you the secret of wisdom,
because sound judgment must look at both sides.
Then you would know that God has even forgotten some of your guilt!

⁷ Can you explore the essence of God?
Can you find a limit to the perfections of the Almighty?
⁸ They are as high as the heavens. What can you do?
They are deeper than hell.^[a] What can you know?
⁹ His dimensions are greater than the earth
and wider than the sea.
¹⁰ If God comes and arrests someone and puts him on trial,
who can overrule him?
¹¹ Certainly he recognizes deceitful men for what they are.
He sees evil, and he recognizes it for what it is.

¹² Before an empty-headed man gets understanding,
a wild donkey colt will be born as a man.

¹³ But you, if you make your heart steadfast,
and you spread out your hands to him,
¹⁴ if you put away the sin you are holding in your hand,
and you do not allow injustice to dwell in your tents,
¹⁵ then you will lift up your face and be blameless.
You will be solid and fearless.
¹⁶ You will certainly forget your trouble.
Your memory of it will be like water that has flowed away.
¹⁷ The rest of your life will be brighter than noon.
Darkness will become like morning.
¹⁸ You will be confident that there is hope.
When you look around, you will go to bed confidently.
¹⁹ You will lie down, and no one will make you tremble.
Many will seek your favor.
²⁰ The eyes of the wicked will fail,
and their place of refuge will disappear.
Their hope will vanish with their dying breath.^[b]