Job 11:1-9

1 Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

2 He that speaks much, should also hear on the other side: or does the fluent speaker think himself to be righteous? blessed the short lived offspring of woman.

3 Be not a speaker of many words; for is there none to answer thee?

4 For say not, I am pure in my works, and blameless before him.

5 But oh that the Lord would speak to thee, and open his lips to thee!

6 Then shall he declare to thee the power of wisdom; for it shall be double of that which is with thee: and then shalt thou know, that a just recompence of thy sins has come to thee from the Lord.

7 Wilt thou find out the traces of the Lord? or hast thou come to the end which the Almighty has made?

8 Heaven high; and what wilt thou do? and there are deeper things than those in hell; what dost thou know?

9 Or longer than the measure of the earth, or the breadth of the sea.

Job 11:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 11

In this chapter Zophar the Naamathite, Job's third friend, attacks him, and the with great acrimony and severity, and with much indecency; he charges him not only with loquacity, and vain babbling, but with lying, and with scoffing at God, and good men, Job 11:1-3; which he attempts to support by some things Job had said, misrepresented by him, Job 11:4; and wishes that God would take him in hand, and convince him of the wisdom of the divine proceedings with him, and of his lenity and mercy to him, Job 11:5,6; and then discourses of the unsearchableness of God in his counsels, and conduct; of his sovereignty, and of his power, and of the vanity and folly of men, Job 11:7-19; and as his friends before him, having insinuated that Job was guilty of some heinous sin, or sins, and especially of hypocrisy, advises him to repentance and reformation, and then it would be well with him; and he should enjoy much comfort, peace, and safety, even to old age, Job 11:13-19; and concludes it should go ill with the wicked man and the hypocrite, such as he suggests Job was, Job 11:20.