Job 11

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Zophar of Naamath spoke next. He said:	1 And Zophar the Naamathite spoke out and said:
2 Is babbling to go without an answer? Is wordiness a proof of uprightness?	2 Should not the man of many words be answered, or must the garrulous man necessarily be right?
3 Do you think your talking strikes people dumb, will you jeer with no one to refute you?	3 Shall your babblings keep men silent, and shall you deride and no one give rebuke?
4 These were your words, 'My conduct is pure, in your eyes I am free of blame!'	4 Shall you say: "My teaching is pure, and I am clean in your sight"?
5 Wil no one let God speak, open his lips and give you answer,	5 But oh, that God would speak, and open his lips against you,
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.	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 Can you claim to fathom the depth of God, can you reach the limit of Shaddai?	7 Can you penetrate the designs of God? Dare you vie with the perfection of the Almighty?
8 It is higher than the heavens: what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol: what can you know?	8 It is higher than the heavens; what can you do? It is deeper than the nether world; what can you know?
9 It would be longer to measure 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 intervenes to close or convoke the assembly, who is to prevent him?	10 If he seize and imprison or call to judgment, who then can say him nay?
11 He knows how deceptive human beings are, and he sees their misdeeds too, and marks them wel .	11 For he knows the worthlessness of men and sees iniquity; will he then ignore it?
12 Hence empty-headed people would do wel to study sense and people who behave like wild donkeysto let themselves be tamed.	12 Will empty man then gain understanding, and the wild jackass be made docile?
13 Come, reconsider your attitude, stretch out your hands towards him!	13 If you set your heart aright and stretch out your hands toward him,
14 If you repudiate the sin which you have doubtless committed and do not al ow wickedness to live onin your tents,	14 If you remove all iniquity from your conduct, and let not injustice dwell in your tent,
15 you wil be able to raise an unsullied face, unwavering and free from fear,	15 Surely then you may lift up your face in innocence; you may stand firm and unafraid.
16 for you wil forget about your misery, thinking of it only as a flood that passed long ago.	16 For then you shall forget your misery, or recall it like waters that have ebbed away.
17 Then begins an existence more radiant than noon, and the very darkness wil be bright as morning.	17 Then your life shall be brighter than the noonday; its gloom shall become as the morning,
18 Confident because there is hope; after your troubles, you wil sleep secure.	18 And you shall be secure, because there is hope; you shall look round you and lie down in safety,
19 When you lie down to rest, no one will trouble you, and many wil seek your favour.	19 and you shall take your rest with none to disturb. Many shall entreat your favor,
20 But as for the wicked, their eyes are weary, there is no refuge for them; their only hope is to breathetheir last.	20 but the wicked, looking on, shall be consumed with envy. Escape shall be cut off from them, they shall wait to expire.