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11:1  Finally, Job’s third friend, Zophar the Naamathite, spoke to Job.
11:2  Zophar: Shall such a great volume of words remain unanswered and a long-winded man be so easily acquitted?
11:3  Shall your empty prattle silence people, and when you mock, shall no one shame you?
11:4  You’ve told us, “I have a clear understanding of things, and I am innocent in Your eyes, O Lord.”
11:5  Ah, but I wish God would speak, that He would address you openly, so I will argue for Him.
11:6  I wish He would show you the secrets of great wisdom— for the two sides of sound wisdom are both found in His mercy and justice. Know this: God forgets some of your guilt.
11:7  Can you see to the unseen side of God, or explore the limits of the Highest One’s knowledge?
11:8  Higher than the heavens—what can you do to reach it? Deeper than the realm of the dead—what can you know of it?
11:9  Its farthest reaches exceed the ends of the earth; its breadth spans far beyond the sea.
11:10  If He passes by, as is His routine, and throws you into prison, and calls you to testify about what you’ve done, who can challenge Him?
11:11  He recognizes worthless people without integrity, so do you really think when He sees wrongdoing He doesn’t examine it?
11:12  As they say, “The empty-headed will become clever in the day the colt of a wild donkey is born human!”
11:13  If you will focus your intentions in His direction and open your hands and reach for Him,
11:14  Where you have guilt on your hands, if you will send it far away and not tolerate sin in your tents,
11:15  Then you will lift up a face clean of all stains; you will hold your head high, secure, and free of fear.
11:16  You will forget all of these troubles of yours; they will pass beneath your memory like a drop of water that has just flowed away.
11:17  Life will become brighter than high noon; darkness will give way to morning.
11:18  Once again, you’ll trust in the presence of hope; you’ll scan the horizon and sleep safely.
11:19  You will lie down, and no one will terrorize you, and many will long to be in your good graces.
11:20  But the eyes of the wicked will grow dark as they lose hope; they’ll find no escape, and in despair, they’ll long only to breathe their last dying breath.