Job 11

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 And Zophar the Naamathite spoke out and said:	1 But Zophar the Naamathite, responding, said:
2 Should not the man of many words be answered, or must the garrulous man necessarily be right?	2 Will he who speaks much, not also listen? Or will a talkative man be justified?
3 Shall your babblings keep men silent, and shall you deride and no one give rebuke?	3 Will men be silent only for you? And when you have mocked others, will no one refute you?
4 Shall you say: "My teaching is pure, and I am clean in your sight"?	4 For you said: “My word is pure, and I am clean in your sight.”
5 But oh, that God would speak, and open his lips against you,	5 Yet I wish that God would speak with you, and would open his lips to you,
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.	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.
7 Can you penetrate the designs of God? Dare you vie with the perfection of the Almighty?	7 By chance, will you comprehend the footsteps of God and reach all the way to the perfection of the Almighty?
8 It is higher than the heavens; what can you do? It is deeper than the nether world; what can you know?	8 He is higher than heaven, and what will you do? He is deeper than hell, but how will you know?
9 It is longer than the earth in measure, and broader than the sea.	9 His measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
10 If he seize and imprison or call to judgment, who then can say him nay?	10 If he overturns all things, or packs them together, who will contradict him?
11 For he knows the worthlessness of men and sees iniquity; will he then ignore it?	11 For he knows the vanity of men, and when he sees iniquity, does he not evaluate it?
12 Will empty man then gain understanding, and the wild jackass be made docile?	12 A vain man is lifted up in arrogance, and he thinks that he is born free like a wild ass’s colt.
13 If you set your heart aright and stretch out your hands toward him,	13 But you have fortified your heart and extended your hands to him.
14 If you remove all iniquity from your conduct, and let not injustice dwell in your tent,	14 If you would send away from you the iniquity that is in your hand, and not let injustice remain in your tabernacle,
15 Surely then you may lift up your face in innocence; you may stand firm and unafraid.	15 then you would be able to lift up your face without blemish, and you would be steadfast and unafraid.
16 For then you shall forget your misery, or recall it like waters that have ebbed away.	16 Misery, likewise, you would forget, or would remember only like waters that have passed by.
17 Then your life shall be brighter than the noonday; its gloom shall become as the morning,	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.
18 And you shall be secure, because there is hope; you shall look round you and lie down in safety,	18 And, when hope has been set before you, you will have faith, and, when buried, you will sleep secure.
19 and you shall take your rest with none to disturb. Many shall entreat your favor,	19 You will rest, and there will be nothing to make you afraid, and many will make requests before your face.
20 but the wicked, looking on, shall be consumed with envy. Escape shall be cut off from them, they shall wait to expire.	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.