1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

2 Should this abundance of words  * 11:2 Jb 8:2; Pr 10:19; Ec 5:3 go unanswered

and such a talker  * 11:2 Lit a man of lips 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  * 11:4 Dt 32:2; Pr 4:2; Is 29:24 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,  * 11:6 Jb 28:12; 38:36; Ec 7:23,25

for true wisdom has two sides.

Know then that God has chosen to overlook some of your iniquity.  * 11:6 Ezr 9:13; Ps 103:10

7 Can you fathom the depths of God

or discover the limits of the Almighty?  * 11:7 Ec 3:11; 8:17; Rm 11:33

8 They are higher than the heavens — what can you do?

They are deeper than Sheol — what can you know?  * 11:8 Dt 30:12–13; Ps 139:8–9; Am 9:2–3

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?  * 11:10 Jb 9:12; 23:13; Rv 3:7

11 Surely he knows which people are worthless.

If he sees iniquity, will he not take note of it?  * 11:11 Jb 34:25; Ps 10:14

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.  * 11:15 Jb 22:26; Ps 119:6; 1Jn 3:21

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  * 11:17 Text emended; MT reads noonday; you are dark, you will be like the morning.  * 11:17 Jb 17:12; Ps 37:6; Is 58:8,10

18 You will be confident, because there is hope.  * 11:18 Jb 4:6; Ps 119:116; Jr 17:7

You will look carefully about and lie down in safety.  * 11:18 Jb 24:23; Ps 4:8; Pr 3:24

19 You will lie down with no one to frighten you,

and many will seek your favor.  * 11:19 Ps 45:12; Pr 19:6; 29:26

20 But the sight of the wicked  * 11:20 Jb 3:17; 9:22; 18:5 will fail.

Their way of escape will be cut off,

and their only hope is their last breath.  * 11:20 Jb 8:13; Pr 10:28; 11:7