Job 11

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW JERUSALEM
1 But Zophar the Naamathite, responding, said:	1 Zophar of Naamath spoke next. He said:
2 Will he who speaks much, not also listen? Or will a talkative man be justified?	2 Is babbling to go without an answer? Is wordiness a proof of uprightness?
3 Will men be silent only for you? And when you have mocked others, will no one refute you?	3 Do you think your talking strikes people dumb, will you jeer with no one to refute you?
4 For you said: “My word is pure, and I am clean in your sight.”	4 These were your words, 'My conduct is pure, in your eyes I am free of blame!'
5 Yet I wish that God would speak with you, and would open his lips to you,	5 Wil no one let God speak, open his lips and give you answer,
6 so that he might reveal to you the secrets of wisdom, and how intricate his law is, and that you would understand how much less he requires of you than your iniquity deserves.	6 show you the secrets of wisdom which put all cleverness to shame? Then you would realise that Godis cal ing you to account for your sin.
7 By chance, will you comprehend the footsteps of God and reach all the way to the perfection of the Almighty?	7 Can you claim to fathom the depth of God, can you reach the limit of Shaddai?
8 He is higher than heaven, and what will you do? He is deeper than hell, but how will you know?	8 It is higher than the heavens: what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol: what can you know?
9 His measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.	9 It would be longer to measure than the earth and broader than the sea.
10 If he overturns all things, or packs them together, who will contradict him?	10 If he intervenes to close or convoke the assembly, who is to prevent him?
11 For he knows the vanity of men, and when he sees iniquity, does he not evaluate it?	11 He knows how deceptive human beings are, and he sees their misdeeds too, and marks them wel .
12 A vain man is lifted up in arrogance, and he thinks that he is born free like a wild ass’s colt.	12 Hence empty-headed people would do wel to study sense and people who behave like wild donkeysto let themselves be tamed.
13 But you have fortified your heart and extended your hands to him.	13 Come, reconsider your attitude, stretch out your hands towards him!
14 If you would send away from you the iniquity that is in your hand, and not let injustice remain in your tabernacle,	14 If you repudiate the sin which you have doubtless committed and do not al ow wickedness to live onin your tents,
15 then you would be able to lift up your face without blemish, and you would be steadfast and unafraid.	15 you wil be able to raise an unsullied face, unwavering and free from fear,
16 Misery, likewise, you would forget, or would remember only like waters that have passed by.	16 for you wil forget about your misery, thinking of it only as a flood that passed long ago.
17 And brightness, like that of midday, will rise upon you until evening, and when you would think yourself consumed, you will rise up like the morning star.	17 Then begins an existence more radiant than noon, and the very darkness wil be bright as morning.
18 And, when hope has been set before you, you will have faith, and, when buried, you will sleep secure.	18 Confident because there is hope; after your troubles, you wil sleep secure.
19 You will rest, and there will be nothing to make you afraid, and many will make requests before your face.	19 When you lie down to rest, no one will trouble you, and many wil seek your favour.
20 But the eyes of the impious will fade away, and the path to escape will perish before them, for the abomination of the soul is their hope.	20 But as for the wicked, their eyes are weary, there is no refuge for them; their only hope is to breathetheir last.