Zophar Speaks

# Chapter 11
1. Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

2. Should this abundance of words go unanswered
and such a talker be acquitted?

3. Should your babbling put others to silence,
so that you can keep on ridiculing
with no one to humiliate you?

4. You have said, "My teaching is sound,
and I am pure in your sight."

5. But if only God would speak
and open his lips against you!

6. He would show you the secrets of wisdom,
for true wisdom has two sides.
Know then that God has chosen to overlook some of your iniquity.

7. Can you fathom the depths of God
or discover the limits of the Almighty?

8. They are higher than the heavens--what can you do?
They are deeper than Sheol--what can you know?

9. Their measure is longer than the earth
and wider than the sea.


10. If he passes by and throws someone in prison
or convenes a court, who can stop him?

11. Surely he knows which people are worthless.
If he sees iniquity, will he not take note of it?

12. But a stupid person will gain understanding
as soon as a wild donkey is born a human!

13. As for you, if you redirect your heart
and spread out your hands to him in prayer--

14. if there is iniquity in your hand, remove it,
and don't allow injustice to dwell in your tents--

15. then you will hold your head high, free from fault.
You will be firmly established and unafraid.

16. For you will forget your suffering,
recalling it only as water that has flowed by.

17. Your life will be brighter than noonday;
its darkness will be like the morning.

18. You will be confident, because there is hope.
You will look carefully about and lie down in safety.

19. You will lie down with no one to frighten you,
and many will seek your favor.

20. But the sight of the wicked will fail.
Their way of escape will be cut off,
and their only hope is their last breath.




