Job 11:7-17

7 Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou come unto the perfection of the Almighty?

8 It is higher than the heavens; what canst thou do? It is deeper than Sheol; how canst thou know it?

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

10 If he cuts off, or shuts up, or gathers together, then who can hinder him?

11 For he knows the vain men; and he sees the iniquity; will he not then understand it?

12 The vain man shall make himself understood, though man is born like a wild ass’s colt.

13 If thou would prepare thine heart and stretch out thine hands toward him;

14 if there is any iniquity in thy hand and thou dost put it far away and dost not consent that wickedness dwell in thy habitations,

15 then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; thou shalt be strongly established and shalt not fear;

16 and thou shalt forget thy misery and remember it as waters that passed away;

17 and thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

Job 11:7-17 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.