Sophar Urges Repentance

Job 11

Sophar the Minaean rebukes Job for his many words, insisting that the Lord's wisdom is unsearchable and that Job has in fact received less punishment than his sins deserve. He urges Job to purify his heart and put away iniquity, promising that his life would then shine and become secure while the hope of the ungodly comes to nothing.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonHERE Sophar and Minaian answering said:

BrentonThen Sophar the Minæan answered and said,

GreekὙπολαβὼν δὲ Σωφὰρ ὁ Μιναῖος, λέγει,

KJVThen answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

JPSThen answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:

ThomsonHe who speaketh much should be answered: else the fine speaker thinketh himself just; and the short-lived offspring of woman is blessed.

BrentonHe that speaks much, should also hear on the other side: or does the fluent speaker think himself to be righteous? blessed is the short-lived offspring of woman.

GreekὉ τὰ πολλὰ λέγων, καὶ ἀντακούσεται· ἢ καὶ ὁ εὔλαλος οἴεται εἶναι δίκαιος;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonBe not profuse of words, because there is none to answer thee:

BrentonBe not a speaker of many words; for is there none to answer thee?

Greekεὐλογημένος γεννητὸς γυναικὸς ὀλιγόβιος. Μὴ πολὺς ἐν ῥήμασι γίνου, οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ἀντικρινόμενός σοι;

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonnor say I am pure in works and irreprehensible before him.

BrentonFor say not, I am pure in my works, and blameless before him.

GreekΜὴ γὰρ λέγε, ὅτι καθαρός εἰμι τοῖς ἔργοις καὶ ἄμεμπτος ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonBut how would the Lord speak to thee; were He to open his lips against thee?

BrentonBut oh that the Lord would speak to thee, and open his lips with thee!

GreekἈλλὰ πῶς ἂν ὁ Κύριος λαλήσαι πρὸς σὲ, καὶ ἀνοίξει χείλη αὐτοῦ μετὰ σοῦ;

KJVBut oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

JPSBut oh that God would speak, And open His lips against thee;

ThomsonIndeed were He to unfold to thee the power of wisdom; because it must needs be double to what are with thee: then thou wouldst know that what have come upon thee from the Lord are answerable to the sins which thou hast committed.

BrentonThen shall he declare to thee the power of wisdom; for it shall be double of that which is with thee: and then shalt thou know, that a just recompence of thy sins has come to thee from the Lord.

GreekΕἶτα ἀναγγελεῖ σοι δύναμιν σοφίας· ὅτι διπλοῦς ἔσται τῶν κατὰ σέ· καὶ τότε γνώσῃ, ὅτι ἄξιά σοι ἀπέβη ἀπὸ Κυρίου ὧν ἡμάρτηκας.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonWilt thou find out the traces of the Lord? or hast thou come to the end of that which the Almighty has made?

GreekἪ ἴχνος Κυρίου εὑρήσεις, ἢ εἰς τὰ ἔσχατα ἀφίκου ἃ ἐποίησεν ὁ παντοκράτωρ;

KJVCanst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

JPSCanst thou find out the deep things of God? Canst thou attain unto the purpose of the Almighty?

ThomsonThe heaven is high, what then canst thou do? And there are things deeper than the mansion of the dead; what dost thou know?

BrentonHeaven is high; and what wilt thou do? and there are deeper things than those in hell; what dost thou know?

GreekὙψηλὸς ὁ οὐρανὸς, καὶ τί ποιήσεις; βαθύτερα δὲ τῶν ἐν ᾅδου, τί οἶδας;

KJVIt is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

JPSIt is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than the nether-world; what canst thou know?

ThomsonOf greater extent than the measure of the earth or the breadth of the sea?

BrentonOr longer than the measure of the earth, or the breadth of the sea.

Greekἢ μακρότερα μέτρου γῆς, ἢ εὔρους θαλάσσης;

KJVThe measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

JPSThe measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

ThomsonNow were he to overturn all these, who could say to Him, What hast Thou done?

BrentonAnd if he should overthrow all things, who will say to him, What hast thou done?

GreekἘὰν δὲ καταστρέψῃ τὰ πάντα, τίς ἐρεῖ αὐτῷ, τί ἐποίησας;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonFor He knoweth the works of the wicked, and on seeing wickedness will not overlook it.

BrentonFor he knows the works of transgressors; and when he sees wickedness, he will not overlook it.

GreekΑὐτὸς γὰρ οἶδεν ἔργα ἀνόμων, ἰδὼν δὲ ἄτοπα οὐ παρόψεται.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonBut man vainly floateth about in words—but a mortal born of woman is like a wild ass.

BrentonBut man vainly buoys himself up with words; and a mortal born of woman is like an ass of the desert.

GreekἌνθρωπος δὲ ἄλλως νήχεται λόγοις· βροτὸς δὲ γεννητὸς γυναικὸς, ἶσα ὄνῳ ἐρημίτῃ.

KJVFor vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.

JPSBut an empty man will get understanding, when a wild ass’s colt is born a man.

ThomsonFor if thou hast made thy heart pure, and lift thy hands to Him:

BrentonFor if thou hast made thine heart pure, and liftest up thine hands towards him;

GreekΕἰ γὰρ σὺ καθαρὰν ἔθου τὴν καρδίαν σου, ὑπτιάζεις δὲ χεῖρας πρὸς αὐτὸν,

KJVIf thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

JPS—

Thomsonif there be any iniquity in thy hand, put it far from thee; and let not injustice lodge in thy dwelling.

Brentonif there is any iniquity in thy hands, put it far from thee, and let not unrighteousness lodge in thy habitation.

Greekεἰ ἄνομόν τί ἐστιν ἐν χερσί σου, πόῤῥω ποίησον αὐτὸ ἀπὸ σοῦ, ἀδικία δὲ ἐν διαίτῃ σου μὴ αὐλισθήτω·

KJVIf iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

JPSIf iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away, and let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents—

ThomsonFor thus will thy countenance brighten like pure water: thou wilt disrobe thyself of filth, and no more be terrified:

BrentonFor thus shall thy countenance shine again, as pure water; and thou shalt divest thyself of uncleanness, and shalt not fear.

GreekΟὕτως γὰρ ἀναλάμψει σου τὸ πρόσωπον, ὥσπερ ὕδωρ καθαρὸν, ἐκδύσῃ δὲ ῥύπον, καὶ οὐ μὴ φοβηθήσῃ·

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonthou shalt forget thy trouble like a wave that is past and not be afraid; and thy wish will spring up like the morning star;

BrentonAnd thou shalt forget trouble, as a wave that has passed by; and thou shalt not be scared.

GreekΚαὶ τὸν κόπον ἐπιλήσῃ, ὥσπερ κῦμα παρελθὸν, καὶ οὐ πτοηθήσῃ·

KJV—

JPSFor thou shalt forget thy misery; Thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away;

Thomsonand life will arise for thee from noon day:

BrentonAnd thy prayer shall be as the morning star, and life shall arise to thee as from the noon-day.

GreekἩ δὲ εὐχή σου ὥσπερ Ἑωσφόρος, ἐκ δὲ μεσημβρίας ἀνατελεῖ σοι ζωή·

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonand thou shalt be in a state of security because thou hast hope. And out of sorrow and care, peace will shine upon thee.

BrentonAnd thou shalt be confident, because thou hast hope; and peace shall dawn to thee from out of anxiety and care.

GreekΠεποιθώς τε ἔσῃ, ὅτι ἐστί σοι ἐλπὶς, ἐκ δὲ μερίμνης καὶ φροντίδος ἀναφανεῖταί σοι εἰρήνη·

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonFor thou shalt rest at ease, and none shall be at war with thee: and many, changing their conduct, will intreat thy favour.

BrentonFor thou shalt be at ease, and there shall be no one to fight against thee; and many shall charge, and make supplication to thee.

GreekἩσυχάσεις γὰρ, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὁ πολεμῶν σε· μεταβαλόμενοι δὲ πολλοί σου δεηθήσονται.

KJVAlso thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

JPSAlso thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; Yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

ThomsonBut safety shall forsake them: for their hope shall be their destruction; and the eyes of the wicked shall melt away.

BrentonBut safety shall fail them; for their hope is destruction, and the eyes of the ungodly shall waste away.

GreekΣωτηρία δὲ αὐτοὺς ἀπολείψει· ἡ γὰρ ἐλπὶς αὐτῶν ἀπώλεια, ὀφθαλμοὶ δὲ ἀσεβῶν τακήσονται.

KJVBut the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.

JPSBut the eyes of the wicked shall fail, And they shall have no way to flee, And their hope shall be the drooping of the soul.