Job 11

Zophar Speaks to Job

¹Then Zophar from Naamah answered Job and said,

²“This flood of words should be answered!

Does all this talking make Job right?

³Do you think we don’t have

an answer for you?

Do you think no one will warn you

when you laugh at God?

⁴You say to God,

‘My arguments are right,

and you can see I am pure.’

⁵I wish God would answer you

and tell you that you are wrong.

⁶He could tell you the secret of wisdom.

He would tell you that every story has two sides.

You can be sure of this:

God is not punishing you as much as he should.

⁷“Do you think you really understand God?

Do you completely understand God All-Powerful?

⁸That knowledge is higher than the heavens

and deeper than the place of death.

So what can you do?

How can you learn it all?

⁹It is greater than the earth

and bigger than the seas.

¹⁰“If God decides to arrest you and take you to court,

no one could stop him.

¹¹God knows who is worthless.

When he sees evil, he remembers it.

¹²A wild donkey cannot give birth to a man,

and a stupid person will never become wise.

¹³Prepare your heart to serve only God.

Lift your arms and pray to him.

¹⁴Put away the sin that you still hold on to.

Don’t keep evil in your tent.

¹⁵If you will do that, you could look to God without shame.

You can stand strong and not be afraid.

¹⁶Then you can forget your troubles,

like water that has already passed by.

¹⁷Your life will be brighter than the sunshine at noon.

Life’s darkest hours will shine like the morning sun.

¹⁸You will feel safe because there is hope.

God will protect you and give you rest.

¹⁹You will lie down without fear of anyone.

Many people will come to you for help.

²⁰Evil people might look for help,

but they will not escape their troubles.

Their hope leads only to death.”