11:1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
11:2 “Are all these words to go unanswered? Is this talker to be vindicated?
11:3 Will your idle talk reduce men to silence? Will no one rebuke you when you mock?
11:4 You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless and I am pure in your sight.’
11:5 Oh, how I wish that God would speak, that he would open his lips against you
11:6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.
11:7 “Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
11:8 They are higher than the heavens–what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave–what can you know?
11:9 Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
11:10 “If he comes along and confines you in prison and convenes a court, who can oppose him?
11:11 Surely he recognizes deceitful men; and when he sees evil, does he not take note?
11:12 But a witless man can no more become wise than a wild donkey’s colt can be born a man.
11:13 “Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him,
11:14 if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,
11:15 then you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear.
11:16 You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by.
11:17 Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning.
11:18 You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.
11:19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor.
11:20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; their hope will become a dying gasp.”
11:1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,
11:2 Should a multitude of words not be answered? / And should a man of much talk be justified?
11:3 Shall your empty talk silence men? / And will you mock, and there be none to shame you?
11:4 For you say, My doctrine is pure, / And I am clean in Your eyes.
11:5 But, oh, that God would speak / And open His lips to you,
11:6 And that He would tell you the secrets of wisdom! / For there are two sides to sound reason. / Know then that God has forgotten some of your iniquity.
11:7 Can you find out the depths of God? / Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
11:8 It is the height of heaven ? what can you do? / It is deeper than Sheol ? what can you know?
11:9 Its measure is longer than that of the earth / And broader than the sea.
11:10 If He passes by and imprisons / And summons an assembly, who can stop Him?
11:11 For He knows men of falsehood, / And He sees iniquity without considering it.
11:12 But an empty-headed man acquires intelligence / When the foal of a wild ass is born as a man.
11:13 If you would set your heart right / And stretch your hands out to Him ?
11:14 If there is iniquity in your hand, put it far away, / And do not let wrong dwell in your tents ?
11:15 Then indeed you would lift up your face without blemish, / And you would be steadfast and would not be afraid.
11:16 For you will forget your misery; / You will remember it as waters that have passed away.
11:17 And your time here will rise more brightly than the noonday; / Dark though it may be, it will be like the morning.
11:18 And you will be secure, for there is hope; / And you will search about and lie down in security.
11:19 Indeed you will lie down, and there will be none to terrify you; / And many will entreat your favor.
11:20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail, / And fleeing will be lost to them, / And their hope will be to breathe out their life.