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11:1  Then Zophar the Naamathite replied,
11:2  Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk [and making such great professions] be pronounced free from guilt or blame?
11:3  Should your boastings and babble make men keep silent? And when you mock and scoff, shall no man make you ashamed?
11:4  For you have said, My doctrine [that God afflicts the righteous knowingly] is pure, and I am clean in [God’s] eyes.
11:5  But oh, that God would speak, and open His lips against you,
11:6  And that He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For He is manifold in understanding! Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your guilt and iniquity [deserve].
11:7  Can you find out the deep things of God, or can you by searching find out the limits of the Almighty [explore His depths, ascend to His heights, extend to His breadths, and comprehend His infinite perfection]?
11:8  His wisdom is as high as the heights of heaven! What can you do? It is deeper than Sheol (the place of the dead)! What can you know?
11:9  Longer in measure [and scope] is it than the earth, and broader than the sea.
11:10  If [God] sweeps in and arrests and calls into judgment, who can hinder Him? [If He is against a man, who shall call Him to account for it?]
11:11  For He recognizes and knows hollow, wicked, and useless men (men of falsehood); when He sees iniquity, will He not consider it?
11:12  But a stupid man will get wisdom [only] when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man [as when he thinks himself free because he is lifted up in pride].
11:13  If you set your heart aright and stretch out your hands to [God],
11:14  If you put sin out of your hand and far away from you and let not evil dwell in your tents;
11:15  Then can you lift up your face to Him without stain [of sin, and unashamed]; yes, you shall be steadfast and secure; you shall not fear.
11:16  For you shall forget your misery; you shall remember it as waters that pass away.
11:17  And [your] life shall be clearer than the noonday and rise above it; though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.
11:18  And you shall be secure and feel confident because there is hope; yes, you shall search about you, and you shall take your rest in safety.
11:19  You shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; yes, many shall sue for your favor.
11:20  But the eyes of the wicked shall look [for relief] in vain, and they shall not escape [the justice of God]; and their hope shall be to give up the ghost.