The Shared Word Translation · Study & Discuss
Job 11
Zophar: Should Your Talk Go Unanswered?
Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
“Should a multitude of words go unanswered,
and should a man full of talk be justified?
Should your empty talk make people silent,
and when you mock, should no one shame you?
For you say, ‘My teaching is pure,
and I am clean in your eyes.’
But if only God would speak
and open his lips with you,
and tell you the secrets of wisdom,
for sound wisdom has many sides.
Know then that God causes some of your guilt to be forgotten.
Can You Search Out the Depths of God?
Can you search out the depths of God?
Can you find the limit of the Almighty?
It is higher than heaven—what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
Its measure is longer than the earth
and broader than the sea.
If he passes through and imprisons
and summons an assembly, who can turn him back?
For he knows people of emptiness;
when he sees wickedness,
will he not consider it?
But an empty-headed person may gain understanding
when a wild donkey’s colt is born human.
If You Prepare Your Heart
If you prepare your heart
and stretch out your hands toward him,
if wickedness is in your hand, put it far away,
and do not let injustice dwell in your tents,
then surely you will lift up your face without blemish;
you will be firm and will not fear.
For you will forget your misery,
remembering it only as waters that have passed by.
Your lifetime will rise brighter than noon;
darkness will become like morning.
You will trust because there is hope;
you will look around and lie down securely.
You will lie down with no one making you afraid,
and many will seek your favor.
But the eyes of the wicked will fail;
escape will perish from them,
and their hope will be the breathing out of life.”