Job 11

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Then Sophar the Naamathite answered, and said:	1 And Zophar the Naamathite spoke out and said:
2 Shall not he that speaketh much, hear also? or shall a man full of talk be justified?	2 Should not the man of many words be answered, or must the garrulous man necessarily be right?
3 Shall men hold their peace to thee only? and when thou hast mocked others, shall no man confute thee?	3 Shall your babblings keep men silent, and shall you deride and no one give rebuke?
4 For thou hast said: My word is pure, and I am clean in thy sight.	4 Shall you say: "My teaching is pure, and I am clean in your sight"?
5 And I wish that God would speak with thee, and would open his lips to thee,	5 But oh, that God would speak, and open his lips against you,
6 That he might shew thee the secrets of wisdom, and that his law is manifold, and thou mightest understand that he exacteth much less of thee, than thy iniquity deserveth.	6 And tell you that the secrets of wisdom are twice as effective: So you might learn that God will make you answer for your guilt.
7 Peradventure thou wilt comprehend the steps of God, and wilt find out the Almighty perfectly?	7 Can you penetrate the designs of God? Dare you vie with the perfection of the Almighty?
8 He is higher than heaven, and what wilt thou do ? he is deeper than hell, and how wilt thou know?	8 It is higher than the heavens; what can you do? It is deeper than the nether world; what can you know?
9 The measure of him is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.	9 It is longer than the earth in measure, and broader than the sea.
10 If he shall overturn all things, or shall press them together, who shall contradict him?	10 If he seize and imprison or call to judgment, who then can say him nay?
11 For he knoweth the vanity of men, and when he seeth iniquity, doth he not consider it?	11 For he knows the worthlessness of men and sees iniquity; will he then ignore it?
12 A vain man is lifted up into pride, and thinketh himself born free like a wild ass's colt.	12 Will empty man then gain understanding, and the wild jackass be made docile?
13 Rut thou hast hardened thy heart, and hast spread thy hands to him.	13 If you set your heart aright and stretch out your hands toward him,
14 If thou wilt put away from thee the iniquity that is in thy hand, and lot not injustice remain in thy tabernacle:	14 If you remove all iniquity from your conduct, and let not injustice dwell in your tent,
15 Then mayst thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear.	15 Surely then you may lift up your face in innocence; you may stand firm and unafraid.
16 Thou shalt also forget misery, and remember it only as waters that are passed away.	16 For then you shall forget your misery, or recall it like waters that have ebbed away.
17 And brightness like that of the noonday, shall arise to thee at evening: and when thou shalt think thyself consumed, thou shalt rise as the day star.	17 Then your life shall be brighter than the noonday; its gloom shall become as the morning,
18 And thou shalt have confidence, hope being set before thee, and being buried thou shalt sleep secure.	18 And you shall be secure, because there is hope; you shall look round you and lie down in safety,
19 Thou shalt rest, and there shall be none to make thee afraid: and many shall entreat thy face.	19 and you shall take your rest with none to disturb. Many shall entreat your favor,
20 But the eyes of the wicked shall decay, and the way to escape shall fail them, and their hope the abomination of the soul.	20 but the wicked, looking on, shall be consumed with envy. Escape shall be cut off from them, they shall wait to expire.