Job 11:3-13

3 Shall men hold their peace to thee only? and when thou hast mocked others, shall no man confute thee?

4 For thou hast said: My word is pure, and I am clean in thy sight.

5 And I wish that God would speak with thee, and would open his lips to thee,

6 That he might shew thee the secrets of wisdom, and that his law is manifold, and thou mightest understand that he exacteth much less of thee, than thy iniquity deserveth.

7 Peradventure thou wilt comprehend the steps of God, and wilt find out the Almighty perfectly?

8 He is higher than heaven, and what wilt thou do? he is deeper than hell, and how wilt thou know?

9 The measure of him is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

10 If he shall overturn all things, or shall press them together, who shall contradict him?

11 For he knoweth the vanity of men, and when he seeth iniquity, doth he not consider it?

12 A vain man is lifted up into pride, and thinketh himself born free like a wild ass’s colt.

13 But thou hast hardened thy heart, and hast spread thy hands to him.

Job 11:3-13 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.