> [[job-10|← Previous]] | [[job-00|TOC]] | [[job-12|Next →]] --- # Job, Chapter 11 ## Chapter 11 **Zophar’s First Speech.** 1 And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: ^job-11-1 2 Should not many words be answered, ^job-11-2 or must the garrulous man necessarily be right? 3 Shall your babblings keep others silent, ^job-11-3 and shall you deride and no one give rebuke? 4 Shall you say: “My teaching is pure, ^job-11-4 and I am clean in your sight”? 5 But oh, that God would speak, ^job-11-5 and open his lips against you, 6 And tell you the secrets of wisdom, ^job-11-6 for good sense has two sides; So you might learn that God overlooks some of your sinfulness. 7 Can you find out the depths of God? ^job-11-7 or find out the perfection of the Almighty? 8 It is higher than the heavens; what can you do? ^job-11-8 It is deeper than Sheol; what can you know? 9 It is longer than the earth in measure, ^job-11-9 and broader than the sea. 10 If he should seize and imprison ^job-11-10 or call to judgment, who then could turn him back? 11 For he knows the worthless ^job-11-11 and sees iniquity; will he then ignore it? 12 An empty head will gain understanding, ^job-11-12 when a colt of a wild jackass is born human. 13 If you set your heart aright ^job-11-13 and stretch out your hands toward him, 14 If iniquity is in your hand, remove it, ^job-11-14 and do not let injustice dwell in your tent, 15 Surely then you may lift up your face in innocence; ^job-11-15 you may stand firm and unafraid. 16 For then you shall forget your misery, ^job-11-16 like water that has ebbed away you shall regard it. 17 Then your life shall be brighter than the noonday; ^job-11-17 its gloom shall become like the morning, 18 And you shall be secure, because there is hope; ^job-11-18 you shall look round you and lie down in safety; 19 you shall lie down and no one will disturb you. ^job-11-19 Many shall entreat your favor, 20 but the wicked, looking on, shall be consumed with envy. ^job-11-20 Escape shall be cut off from them, their only hope their last breath. --- \* (11:5) This is another of many ironies (e.g., cf. [11:16] – [19]) that occur throughout the book. Zophar does not know that God will speak (chaps. [38] – [42]), but contrary to what he thinks. \* (11:12) A colt…is born human: the Hebrew is obscure. As translated, it seems to be a proverb referring to an impossible event. --- a. (11:7) [Rom 11:33]. b. (11:12) [Jb 39:5] – [8]. c. (11:18) [Lv 26:6]; ([[psalm-04|Ps 4]]:9]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[job-10|← Previous]] | [[job-00|TOC]] | [[job-12|Next →]]