Job 11:1-8

1 Now it was the turn of Zophar from Naamath:

2 "What a flood of words! Shouldn't we put a stop to it? Should this kind of loose talk be permitted?

3 Job, do you think you can carry on like this and we'll say nothing? That we'll let you rail and mock and not step in?

4 You claim, 'My doctrine is sound and my conduct impeccable.'

5 How I wish God would give you a piece of his mind, tell you what's what!

6 I wish he'd show you how wisdom looks from the inside, for true wisdom is mostly 'inside.' But you can be sure of this, you haven't gotten half of what you deserve.

7 "Do you think you can explain the mystery of God? Do you think you can diagram God Almighty?

8 God is far higher than you can imagine, far deeper than you can comprehend,

Job 11:1-8 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.