Job 11

Berean Standard Bible

Chapter summary

Zophar the Naamathite responds to Job, criticizing him for his lengthy speech, scoffing, and claims of purity before God. He wishes that God would speak to reveal the vastness and inscrutable depths of divine wisdom, asserting that God actually punishes Job less than his iniquity deserves. Zophar emphasizes that no one can fathom the limits of the Almighty or hinder His actions, noting that God observes human deceit and iniquity. He compares a witless man to the colt of a wild donkey, unable to gain true wisdom easily. Finally, Zophar tells Job that if he directs his heart, lifts his hands to God, and removes all iniquity and injustice from his tents, he will live securely, free of fear, with a life brighter than noonday, while the eyes of the wicked will fail.

Summary automatically generated from the Bible text.

Words of Jesus in red

¹Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: ²“Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated? ³Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke? ⁴You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.’ ⁵But if only God would speak and open His lips against you, ⁶and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves. ⁷Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty? ⁸They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know? ⁹Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. ¹⁰If He comes along to imprison you, or convenes a court, who can stop Him? ¹¹Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note? ¹²But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man! ¹³As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him, ¹⁴if you put away the iniquity in your hand, and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents, ¹⁵then indeed you will lift up your face without blemish; you will stand firm and unafraid. ¹⁶For you will forget your misery, recalling it only as waters gone by. ¹⁷Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning. ¹⁸You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety. ¹⁹You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor. ²⁰But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”

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Louis Segond 1910 and Berean Standard Bible: public domain. Cross references: open-cross-ref, Creative Commons BY 4.0.