Job 11
What Happens in This Chapter
Zophar from Naamah is the third friend to speak, and this is his first speech. He says Job talks too much and that God is punishing him less than his sin deserves. He says God's wisdom is far too deep for anyone to fully find out. Then he tells Job to put away wrongdoing, promising him safety and rest, and warns that the wicked have nowhere to escape.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
1Then Zophar, a man from the town of Naamah, answered Job. He said:
2Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
2"You have said so many words. Should nobody answer them? Should a big talker be called right?"
3Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
3"Should your empty talk make everyone else stay quiet? You laugh at us. Should no one correct you?"
4For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.
4"You have said, 'What I believe is right. God sees me as clean.'"
5But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
5"I wish God himself would speak. I wish he would answer you out loud."
6And 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.
6"I wish he would show you the secrets of wisdom. Real wisdom has more sides than you see. Then you would know this: God is giving you less punishment than your sin deserves."
7Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
7"Can you search and find out all about God? Can you fully know the Almighty, the God who can do anything?"
8It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
8"God's wisdom is higher than the heavens. What can you do about that? It is deeper than the place of the dead. What can you know about it?"
The KJV says "hell" here, but the old word means the place of the dead, deep underground. It is a picture of something very deep, not a place of punishment.
9The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
9"It reaches farther than the whole earth. It is wider than the sea."
10If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?
10"Suppose God comes and shuts a person up, or calls him to court. Who could stop him?"
11For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?
11"God knows when people are not honest. He sees the wrong they do. He surely takes notice of it."
12For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.
12"A foolish man wants to be wise. But he can no more become wise than a wild donkey's baby can be born a man."
The KJV wording is hard to follow. The picture is simple: a foolish man becoming wise is as unlikely as a wild donkey giving birth to a person.
13If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
13"But you could turn your heart back to God. You could lift up your hands to him."
14If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
14"Put away the wrong you are holding on to. Do not let evil live in your tents."
15For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
15"Then you could lift up your face and feel no shame. You would stand strong and not be afraid."
16Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:
16"You would forget your sadness. You would remember it like water that has flowed away."
17And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday: thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
17"Your life would shine brighter than the sun at noon. Even the dark parts would feel like morning."
18And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
18"You would feel safe, because there would be hope. You would look around you and lie down in peace."
19Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
19"You would lie down, and nobody would frighten you. Many people would come asking you for help."
20But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.
20"But wicked people will look for help and find none. There will be no way for them to escape. The only thing left to hope for is their last breath."
"The giving up of the ghost" is old English for breathing your very last breath.
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