Job 11:2-12

2 "Shouldn't this torrent of words be answered? Does talking a lot make a person right?

3 Is your babble supposed to put others to silence? When you mock, is no one to make you ashamed?

4 "You claim that your teaching is pure; you tell [God], 'I am clean in your sight.'

5 I wish that God would speak, would open his mouth to answer you,

6 would tell you the secrets of wisdom, which is worth twice as much as common sense. Understand that God is demanding of you less than your guilt deserves.

7 "Can you penetrate God's depths? Can you find out Shaddai's limits?

8 They're as high as heaven; what can you do? They're deeper than Sh'ol; what can you know?

9 Their extent is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.

10 If he passes through, puts in prison and assembles [for judgment], who can prevent him?

11 For he knows when people are worthless; so if he sees iniquity, won't he look into it?

12 "An empty man can gain understanding, even if he was born like a wild donkey.

Job 11:2-12 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.