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Zophar Speaks: Job’s Guilt Deserves Punishment

11Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:
² ‘Should a multitude of words go unanswered,
   and should one full of talk be vindicated?
³ Should your babble put others to silence,
   and when you mock, shall no one shame you?
⁴ For you say, “My conduct^* is pure,
   and I am clean in God’s^* sight.”
⁵ But O that God would speak,
   and open his lips to you,
⁶ and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!
   For wisdom is many-sided.^*
Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.

⁷ ‘Can you find out the deep things of God?
   Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?^*
8 It is higher than heaven^*—what can you do?
   Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
⁹ Its measure is longer than the earth,
   and broader than the sea.
¹⁰ If he passes through, and imprisons,
   and assembles for judgement, who can hinder him?
¹¹ For he knows those who are worthless;
   when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?
¹² But a stupid person will get understanding,
   when a wild ass is born human.^*

¹³ ‘If you direct your heart rightly,
   you will stretch out your hands towards him.
¹⁴ If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
   and do not let wickedness reside in your tents.
¹⁵ Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish;
   you will be secure, and will not fear.
¹⁶ You will forget your misery;
   you will remember it as waters that have passed away.
¹⁷ And your life will be brighter than the noonday;
   its darkness will be like the morning.
¹⁸ And you will have confidence, because there is hope;
   you will be protected^* and take your rest in safety.
¹⁹ You will lie down, and no one will make you afraid;
   many will entreat your favour.
²⁰ But the eyes of the wicked will fail;
   all way of escape will be lost to them,
   and their hope is to breathe their last.’

Job Replies: I Am a Laughing-stock

12Then Job answered:
² ‘No doubt you are the people,
   and wisdom will die with you.
³ But I have understanding as well as you;
   I am not inferior to you.
   Who does not know such things as these?
⁴ I am a laughing-stock to my friends;
   I, who called upon God and he answered me,
   a just and blameless man, I am a laughing-stock.
⁵ Those at ease have contempt for misfortune,^*
   but it is ready for those whose feet are unstable.
⁶ The tents of robbers are at peace,
   and those who provoke God are secure,
   who bring their god in their hands.^*

⁷ ‘But ask the animals, and they will teach you;
   the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
⁸ ask the plants of the earth,^* and they will teach you;
   and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
⁹ Who among all these does not know
   that the hand of the Lord has done this?
¹⁰ In his hand is the life of every living thing
   and the breath of every human being.
¹¹ Does not the ear test words
   as the palate tastes food?
¹² Is wisdom with the aged,
   and understanding in length of days?

¹³ ‘With God^* are wisdom and strength;
   he has counsel and understanding.
¹⁴ If he tears down, no one can rebuild;
   if he shuts someone in, no one can open up.
¹⁵ If he withholds the waters, they dry up;
   if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
¹⁶ With him are strength and wisdom;
   the deceived and the deceiver are his.
¹⁷ He leads counsellors away stripped,
   and makes fools of judges.
¹⁸ He looses the sash of kings,
   and binds a waistcloth on their loins.
¹⁹ He leads priests away stripped,
   and overthrows the mighty.
²⁰ He deprives of speech those who are trusted,
   and takes away the discernment of the elders.
²¹ He pours contempt on princes,
   and looses the belt of the strong.
²² He uncovers the deeps out of darkness,
   and brings deep darkness to light.
²³ He makes nations great, then destroys them;
   he enlarges nations, then leads them away.
²⁴ He strips understanding from the leaders^* of the earth,
   and makes them wander in a pathless waste.
²⁵ They grope in the dark without light;
   he makes them stagger like a drunkard.