Job 11

So Much Foolish Talk

¹Zophar from Naamah said:[#11.1 See the note at 2.11.]

²So much foolish talk

cannot go unanswered.

³Your words have silenced others

and made them ashamed;

now it is only right for you

to be put to shame.

⁴You claim to be innocent

and argue that your beliefs

are acceptable to God.

⁵But I wish God would speak

⁶and let you know that wisdom

has many different sides.

You would then discover

that God has punished you

less than you deserve.

⁷Can you understand the mysteries

surrounding God All-Powerful?

⁸They are higher than the heavens

and deeper than the grave.

So what can you do

when you know so little,

⁹and these mysteries outreach

the earth and the ocean?

¹⁰If God puts you in prison

or drags you to court,

what can you do?

¹¹God has the wisdom to know

when someone is worthless

and sinful,

¹²but it's easier to tame

a wild donkey

than to make a fool wise.

Surrender Your Heart to God

¹³Surrender your heart to God,

turn to him in prayer,

¹⁴and give up your sins—

even those you do in secret.

¹⁵Then you won't be ashamed;

you will be confident

and fearless.

¹⁶Your troubles will go away

like water beneath a bridge,

¹⁷and your darkest night

will be brighter than noon.

¹⁸You will rest safe and secure,

filled with hope

and emptied of worry.

¹⁹You will sleep without fear

and be greatly respected.

²⁰But those who are evil

will go blind and lose their way.

Their only escape is death!