Job 11:1-20 - Zophar's First Response To Job
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said, 2 "Should an abundance of words go unanswered, or {a man full of talk} be vindicated? 3 Should your loose talk put people to silence? {And when you mock, shall no one put you to shame}? 4 For you say, 'My teaching [is] pure, and I am clean in your sight.' 5 But, {O that} God might speak, and [that] he would open his lips to you, 6 and [that] he would tell you [the] secrets of wisdom, for {insight has many sides}. And know that God {on your behalf} has forgotten {some of} your guilt.
7 "Can you find [out] the essence of God, or can you find [out] {the ultimate limits} of Shaddai? 8 {It is higher than the heaven}; what can you do? [It is] deeper than Sheol; what can you know? 9 Its measure [is] longer than [the] earth and broader than [the] sea.
10 "If he passes through and imprisons someone {and summons the assembly}, then who can hinder him? 11 For he knows {those who are worthless}; {when he sees} iniquity, {he will not consider it}. 12 But {an empty-headed person} will get understanding when a wild donkey's colt is born [as] a human being.
13 "If you yourself direct your heart and stretch out your hands to him-- 14 if iniquity [is] in your hand, put it far away, and you must not let wickedness reside in your tents-- 15 surely then you will lift up your face without blemish, and you will be firmly established and will not fear. 16 For you yourself will forget your misery; you will remember [it] as water [that] has flowed past. 17 "{And your life will be brighter than noon}; [its] darkness will be like the morning. 18 And you will have confidence because there is hope; and you will be well protected--{you will sleep in safety}.
19 And you will lie down, and {no one will make you afraid}; {and many will entreat your favor}. 20 But [the] eyes of [the] wicked will fail; and refuge will be lost to them, and their hope [is] {to breathe their last breath}."