Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse

Job 11

1 Then d Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

2 "Should e a multitude of words go unanswered,
and a man full of talk be judged right?
 3 Should your babble silence men,
and when you mock, shall no one shame you?
 4 For f you say, 'My g doctrine is pure,
and I am clean in God's 1 eyes.'
 5 But oh, that God would speak
and open his lips to you,
 6 and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!
For he is manifold in h understanding. 2
Know then that God i exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.

7 j "Can you find out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
 8 It is k higher than heaven 3 - 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 l passes through and m imprisons
and summons the court, who can n turn him back?
 11 For he knows o worthless men;
when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?
 12 But a stupid man will get understanding
when p a wild donkey's colt is q born a man!

13 "If you r prepare your heart,
you will s stretch out your hands toward him.
 14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
and let not injustice dwell in your tents.
 15 Surely then you will t lift up your face without u blemish;
you will be secure and will not fear.
 16 You will v forget your misery;
you will remember it as waters that have passed away.
 17 And your life will be w brighter than the noonday;
its darkness will be like the morning.
 18 And you will feel secure, because there is hope;
you will look around and x take your rest in security.
 19 You will x lie down, and none will make you afraid;
many will y court your favor.
 20 But z the eyes of the wicked will fail;
all way of escape will be lost to them,
and their hope is a to breathe their last."

  1. Cross References
    Job 2:11
    Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him.
  2. Cross References
    Proverbs 10:19
    When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
    Ecclesiastes 5:3
    For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words.
  3. Cross References
    Job 10:7
    Although you know that I am not guilty, and there is none to deliver out of your hand?
  4. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 32:2
    May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the herb.
    Proverbs 4:2
    For I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.
    Isaiah 29:24
    And those who go astray in spirit will come to understanding, and those who murmur will accept instruction.
  5. Cross References
    Job 5:12
    He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.
  6. Cross References
    Ezra 9:13
    And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this.
  7. Cross References
    Job 5:9
    Who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number:
    Ecclesiastes 3:11
    He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
    Ecclesiastes 8:17
    Then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out.
    Psalms 145:3
    Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.
    Romans 11:33
    Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
  8. Cross References
    Job 22:12
    Is not God high in the heavens? See the highest stars, how lofty they are!
    Psalms 139:8
    If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
  9. Cross References
    Job 9:11 - 16
    Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him.
  10. Cross References
    Job 12:14
    If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open.
  11. Cross References
    Job 9:12
    Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back? Who will say to him, 'What are you doing?
    Job 23:13
    But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does.
  12. Cross References
    Psalms 26:4
    I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites.
  13. Cross References
    Job 39:5 - 8
    Who has let the wild donkey go free? Who has loosed the bonds of the swift donkey.
  14. Cross References
    Psalms 73:22
    I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.
    Ecclesiastes 3:18
    I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts.
  15. Cross References
    Psalms 78:8
    And that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.
    1 Samuel 7:3
    And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, "If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
  16. Cross References
    Psalms 44:20
    If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god.
    Psalms 88:9
    My eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call upon you, O Lord ; I spread out my hands to you.
    Psalms 143:6
    I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah
  17. Cross References
    Job 22:26
    For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.
    Genesis 4:5
    But for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
    Psalms 119:6
    Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
    1 John 3:21
    Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God.
  18. Cross References
    Job 31:7
    If my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands.
    2 Peter 3:14
    Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
  19. Cross References
    Isaiah 65:16
    So that he who blesses himself in the land shall bless himself by the God of truth, and he who takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten and are hidden from my eyes.
  20. Cross References
    Psalms 37:6
    He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
    Isaiah 58:8
    Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
    Isaiah 58:10
    If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.
  21. Cross References
    Leviticus 26:5 - 6
    Your threshing shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely.
    Psalms 4:8
    In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
    Proverbs 3:24
    If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
    Isaiah 17:2
    The cities of Aroer are deserted; they will be for flocks, which will lie down, and none will make them afraid.
    Zephaniah 3:13
    Those who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
  22. Cross References
    Job 11:18
    And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security.
  23. Cross References
    Psalms 45:12
    The people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts, the richest of the people.
  24. Cross References
    Job 17:5
    He who informs against his friends to get a share of their property - the eyes of his children will fail.
    Job 31:16
    If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail.
  25. Cross References
    Jeremiah 15:9
    She who bore seven has grown feeble; she has fainted away; her sun went down while it was yet day; she has been shamed and disgraced. And the rest of them I will give to the sword before their enemies, declares the Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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