Jó 11

Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse

1 Then *ch. 2:11Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

2 "Should *Prov. 10:19;Eccles. 5:3a multitude of words go unanswered,

and a man full of talk be judged right?

3 Should your babble silence men,

and when you mock, shall no one shame you?

4 For *ch. 10:7you say, ‘My *Deut. 32:2;Prov. 4:2;Isa. 29:24doctrine is pure,

and I am clean in God’s*11:4 Hebrew your eyes.’

5 But oh, that God would speak

and open his lips to you,

6 and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!

For he is manifold in *ch. 5:12(Heb.)understanding.*11:6 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain

Know then that God *[Ezra 9:13]exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.

7 *ch. 5:9;Eccles. 3:11;8:17;[Ps. 145:3;Rom. 11:33]"Can you find out the deep things of God?

Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?

8 It is *[ch. 22:12;Ps. 139:8]higher than heaven*11:8 Hebrew The heights of heaven—what can you do?

Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

9 Its measure is longer than the earth

and broader than the sea.

10 If he *See ch. 9:11-16passes through and *See ch. 12:14imprisons

and summons the court, who can *ch. 9:12;23:13turn him back?

11 For he knows *Ps. 26:4worthless men;

when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?

12 But a stupid man will get understanding

when *See ch. 39:5-8a wild donkey’s colt is *[Ps. 73:22;Eccles. 3:18]born a man!

13 "If you *Ps. 78:8;See 1 Sam. 7:3prepare your heart,

you will *Ps. 44:20;88:9;143:6stretch out your hands toward him.

14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,

and let not injustice dwell in your tents.

15 Surely then you will *ch. 22:26;[Gen. 4:5;Ps. 119:6;1 John 3:21] lift up your face without *ch. 31:7;2 Pet. 3:14blemish;

you will be secure and will not fear.

16 You will *[Isa. 65:16]forget your misery;

you will remember it as waters that have passed away.

17 And your life will be *[Ps. 37:6;Isa. 58:8,10]brighter than the noonday;

its darkness will be like the morning.

18 And you will feel secure, because there is hope;

you will look around and *Lev. 26:5,6;Ps. 4:8;Prov. 3:24;Isa. 17:2;Zeph. 3:13take your rest in security.

19 You will *[See ver. 18above] lie down, and none will make you afraid;

many will *Ps. 45:12court your favor.

20 But *ch. 17:5;31:16the eyes of the wicked will fail;

all way of escape will be lost to them,

and their hope is *Jer. 15:9to breathe their last."