Job 11:2–4

¹⁹Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

²How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.

¹⁹In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

¹⁸Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

³Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

²How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?

¹¹Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

²Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?

¹⁴And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

¹⁷I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.

⁴I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

⁴But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

⁹Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?

²Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?

³Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?

³Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

²⁵And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?

⁷What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

¹⁸How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

¹⁶With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

¹⁶Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord.

⁸Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

⁷Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand.

¹⁰Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

¹⁵But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

⁴Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

⁵For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

⁶Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

²Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God’s?

²⁹Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.

³⁰Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?

²⁰I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

²I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

³If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.