Job 11 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Then Zophar from Naamah answered:

All this talk — should no one answer it? Should a man be proven right just because his lips keep moving?

Is your bragging supposed to shut everyone up? You mock, and no one is going to put you to shame?

You keep saying, "What I hold to is clean, and God, in your eyes I come out spotless."

But if only God would speak — if he would open his lips against you,

and tell you what wisdom keeps hidden — because real understanding has two sides. Then you would know that God is charging you less than your guilt is worth.

Can you dig God out by searching? Can you find the far edge of the Almighty?

It is higher than the sky — what will you do? Deeper than the world of the dead — what can you know?

Its measure runs longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

If he passes by and shuts a man away, if he calls the court to order, who can turn him back?

Because he knows which men are hollow. He sees the crookedness, and he does not need a second look.

A hollow man will grow a mind about the time a wild donkey's colt is born human.

But you — if you get your heart ready and reach your hands out to him,

if there is wrong in your hand, put it far away, and do not let injustice live in your tents —

then you will lift your face with no mark on it. You will stand solid, and you will not be afraid.

You will forget your misery — you will remember it the way you remember water that has already run past.

Your life will come up brighter than noon; the dark will turn into morning.

And you will trust, because there is hope. You will look around you and lie down safe.

You will stretch out, and nothing will startle you, and many will come asking for your favor.

But the eyes of the wicked will give out. Every way out will be gone from them, and their one hope will be their last breath.