Ijob 11

1Then Sophar the Naamathite answered, and said:

2Shall not he that speaketh much, hear also? or shall a man full of talk be justified?

3Shall men hold their peace to thee only? and when thou hast mocked others, shall no man confute thee?

4For thou hast said: My word is pure, and I am clean in thy sight.

5And I wish that God would speak with thee, and would open his lips to thee,

6That he might shew thee the secrets of wisdom, and that his law is manifold, and thou mightest understand that he exacteth much less of thee, than thy iniquity deserveth.

7Peradventure thou wilt comprehend the steps of God, and wilt find out the Almighty perfectly?

8He is higher than heaven, and what wilt thou do? he is deeper than hell, and how wilt thou know?

9The measure of him is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

10If he shall overturn all things, or shall press them together, who shall contradict him?

11For he knoweth the vanity of men, and when he seeth iniquity, doth he not consider it?

12A vain man is lifted up into pride, and thinketh himself born free like a wild ass’s colt.

13Rut thou hast hardened thy heart, and hast spread thy hands to him.

14If thou wilt put away from thee the iniquity that is in thy hand, and lot not injustice remain in thy tabernacle:

15Then mayst thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear.

16Thou shalt also forget misery, and remember it only as waters that are passed away.

17And brightness like that of the noonday, shall arise to thee at evening: and when thou shalt think thyself consumed, thou shalt rise as the day star.

18And thou shalt have confidence, hope being set before thee, and being buried thou shalt sleep secure.

19Thou shalt rest, and there shall be none to make thee afraid: and many shall entreat thy face.

20But the eyes of the wicked shall decay, and the way to escape shall fail them, and their hope the abomination of the soul.

1Respondens autem Sophar Naamathites, dixit:

2[Numquid qui multa loquitur, non et audiet? aut vir verbosus justificabitur?

3Tibi soli tacebunt homines? et cum ceteros irriseris, a nullo confutaberis?

4Dixisti enim: Purus est sermo meus, et mundus sum in conspectu tuo.

5Atque utinam Deus loqueretur tecum, et aperiret labia sua tibi,

6ut ostenderet tibi secreta sapientiæ, et quod multiplex esset lex ejus: et intelligeres quod multo minora exigaris ab eo quam meretur iniquitas tua !

7Forsitan vestigia Dei comprehendes, et usque ad perfectum Omnipotentem reperies?

8Excelsior cælo est, et quid facies? profundior inferno, et unde cognosces?

9Longior terra mensura ejus, et latior mari.

10Si subverterit omnia, vel in unum coarctaverit, quis contradicet ei?

11Ipse enim novit hominum vanitatem; et videns iniquitatem, nonne considerat?

12Vir vanus in superbiam erigitur, et tamquam pullum onagri se liberum natum putat.

13Tu autem firmasti cor tuum, et expandisti ad eum manus tuas.

14Si iniquitatem quæ est in manu tua abstuleris a te, et non manserit in tabernaculo tuo injustitia,

15tunc levare poteris faciem tuam absque macula; et eris stabilis, et non timebis.

16Miseriæ quoque oblivisceris, et quasi aquarum quæ præterierunt recordaberis.

17Et quasi meridianus fulgor consurget tibi ad vesperam; et cum te consumptum putaveris, orieris ut lucifer.

18Et habebis fiduciam, proposita tibi spe: et defossus securus dormies.

19Requiesces, et non erit qui te exterreat; et deprecabuntur faciem tuam plurimi.

20Oculi autem impiorum deficient, et effugium peribit ab eis: et spes illorum abominatio animæ.]

1But Zophar the Naamathite, responding, said:

2Will he who speaks much, not also listen? Or will a talkative man be justified?

3Will men be silent only for you? And when you have mocked others, will no one refute you?

4For you said: “My word is pure, and I am clean in your sight.”

5Yet I wish that God would speak with you, and would open his lips to you,

6so that he might reveal to you the secrets of wisdom, and how intricate his law is, and that you would understand how much less he requires of you than your iniquity deserves.

7By chance, will you comprehend the footsteps of God and reach all the way to the perfection of the Almighty?

8He is higher than heaven, and what will you do? He is deeper than hell, but how will you know?

9His measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

10If he overturns all things, or packs them together, who will contradict him?

11For he knows the vanity of men, and when he sees iniquity, does he not evaluate it?

12A vain man is lifted up in arrogance, and he thinks that he is born free like a wild ass’s colt.

13But you have fortified your heart and extended your hands to him.

14If you would send away from you the iniquity that is in your hand, and not let injustice remain in your tabernacle,

15then you would be able to lift up your face without blemish, and you would be steadfast and unafraid.

16Misery, likewise, you would forget, or would remember only like waters that have passed by.

17And brightness, like that of midday, will rise upon you until evening, and when you would think yourself consumed, you will rise up like the morning star.

18And, when hope has been set before you, you will have faith, and, when buried, you will sleep secure.

19You will rest, and there will be nothing to make you afraid, and many will make requests before your face.

20But the eyes of the impious will fade away, and the path to escape will perish before them, for the abomination of the soul is their hope.