Chapter 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.