Job 11

Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

‘Are all these words to go unanswered?
    Is this talker to be vindicated?

Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

Will your idle talk reduce others to silence?
    Will no one rebuke you when you mock?

For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

You say to God, “My beliefs are flawless
    and I am pure in your sight.”

But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

Oh, how I wish that God would speak,
    that he would open his lips against you

And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,
    for true wisdom has two sides.
    Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.

Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

‘Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
    Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

They are higher than the heavens above – what can you do?
    They are deeper than the depths below – what can you know?

The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

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

If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

‘If he comes along and confines you in prison
    and convenes a court, who can oppose him?

For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

Surely he recognises deceivers;
    and when he sees evil, does he not take note?

For vain men would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.

But the witless can no more become wise
    than a wild donkey’s colt can be born human.^[a]

If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

‘Yet if you devote your heart to him
    and stretch out your hands to him,

If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

if you put away the sin that is in your hand
    and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,

For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;
    you will stand firm and without fear.

Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

You will surely forget your trouble,
    recalling it only as waters gone by.

And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday: thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

Life will be brighter than noonday,
    and darkness will become like morning.

And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

You will be secure, because there is hope;
    you will look about you and take your rest in safety.

Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,
    and many will court your favour.

But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.

But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
    and escape will elude them;
    their hope will become a dying gasp.’