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Job 11-12

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.

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v 2.9.2
30 June 2021

From the oremus Bible Browser https://bible.oremus.org v2.9.2 30 June 2021.