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Contemporary English Version
Job 11:2
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- InternationalParallel Translations
Should this abundance of words go unansweredand such a talker be acquitted?
"Shouldn't the multitude of words be answered? Should a man full of talk be justified?
Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
"Should a multitude of words go unanswered, and a man full of talk be judged right?
"Should these words go unanswered? Is this talker in the right?
"Should not this abundance of words be answered, or should this talkative man be vindicated?
"Shall a multitude of words not be answered? And should a talkative man [making such a long-winded defense] be acquitted?
"Shall a multitude of words go unanswered, And a talkative man be acquitted?
"Shouldn't the multitude of words be answered? Should a man full of talk be justified?
Should not the multitude of wordes be answered? or should a great talker be iustified?
"Shall a multitude of words go unanswered,And a man of lips be in the right?
"Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?
"Shouldn't this torrent of words be answered? Does talking a lot make a person right?
Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man of much talk be justified?
"This flood of words should be answered! Does all this talking make Job right?
The LORD does not answer because of the multitude of words, neither can a fluent speaker be justified by his discourse.
"Should an abundance of words go unanswered, or a man full of talk be vindicated?
Should not a flood of words be answered? And should a man of lips be justified?
Shulde not he that maketh many wordes, be answered? Shulde he that bableth moch, be commended therin?
Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be justified?
Are all these words to go unanswered? and is a man seen to be right because he is full of talk?
Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be accounted right?
Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should man ful of talke be iustified?
Shoulde not [he that maketh] many wordes be aunswered? Shoulde he that bableth much be commended therin?
He 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.
Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
Whether he, that spekith many thingis, schal not also here? ether whethir a man ful of wordis schal be maad iust?
Shouldn't the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be justified?
Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
"Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be vindicated?
"Shouldn't someone answer this torrent of words? Is a person proved innocent just by a lot of talking?
"Should many words go without an answer? Should a man full of talk be said to be without blame?
"Should a multitude of words go unanswered, and should one full of talk be vindicated?
Should, the multitude of words, not be answered? Or should, a man full of talk, be justified?
Shall not he that speaketh much, hear also? or shall a man full of talk be justified?
"Should a multitude of words go unanswered, and a man full of talk be vindicated?
Is a multitude of words not answered? And is a man of lips justified?
"Shall a multitude of words go unanswered, And a talkative man be acquitted?
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
the multitude: Job 16:3, Job 18:2, Psalms 140:11, Proverbs 10:19, Acts 17:18, James 1:19
full of talk: Heb. of lips
Reciprocal: Job 8:2 - How long Job 12:2 - ye are the people Job 13:7 - General Job 15:2 - a wise man Job 16:2 - heard Job 16:4 - up words Job 24:25 - who will make Job 34:37 - multiplieth
Cross-References
So Lot chose the whole Jordan Valley for himself, and as he started toward the east, he and Abram separated.
About this time, King Amraphel of Babylonia, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Chedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim
When that day comes, the Lord will again reach out his mighty arm and bring home his people who have survived in Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Ethiopia, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the land along the coast.
The Lord let Nebuchadnezzar capture Jehoiakim and take away some of the things used in God's temple. And when the king returned to Babylonia, he put these things in the temple of his own god.
"To Babylonia," he answered, "where they will build a house for the basket and set it down inside."
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Should not the multitude of words be answered?.... Zophar insinuates, that Job was a mere babbler, a talkative man, that had words, but no matter; said a great deal, but there was nothing in what he said; that his words were but wind, yea, in effect that he was a fool, who is commonly full of words, and is known by the multitude of them; and whereas he might think to bear down all before him in this way, and to discourage persons from giving him an answer; this Zophar suggests should not be the case, nor would he be deterred hereby from giving one, which he now undertook: some supply it, as Bar Tzemach, "should not a man of a multitude of words" s, c. a verbose man, a dealer in many words, and nothing else, should not he be "answered?" if he uses nothing but words, and there is no argument in them, they seem not to deserve an answer, unless it be to show the emptiness of them, expose a man's folly, and pull down his pride and vanity:
and should a man full of talk be justified? or "a man of lips" t, an eloquent man, or one that affects to be so a man of a fine speech, who artfully colours things, and makes a show of wisdom and truth, when there are neither in what he says; is such a man to be justified? he would seem to be in his own eyes at least, if not in the eyes of others, if not answered; he would be thought to have carried his point, to have had the better of the argument, and to have got the victory by dint of words and power of oratory; for this is not to be understood of justification before God; for as no man is heard and accepted by him for his "much speaking", as was the opinion of the Heathens, so neither are any justified on account of their many words, any more than their many works; since, in a multitude of words there are often not only much folly and weakness, but vanities and sins, Proverbs 10:19; there is indeed a sense in which a man is justified by his words, Matthew 12:37; when he confesses Christ, and professes to be justified by his righteousness, and believes in that, and pleads it as his justifying righteousness; he is justified by that righteousness; which is contained in the confession and profession of his faith; but this is not here meant.
s הרב דברים "an abundans verbis", Beza; "an multus verbis", Mercerus, so Kimchi Ben Melech and most Hebrew writers take
רב for an adjective. t איש שפתים "vir labiorum", Montanus, Beza, Drusius, Vatablus, Mercerus, Bolducius, Cocceius, Schmidt, Michaelis.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Should not the multitude of words be answered? - As if all that Job had said had been mere words; or as if he was remarkable for mere garrulity.
And should a man full of talk be justified - Margin, as in Hebrew “of lips.” The phrase is evidently a Hebraism, to denote a great talker - a man of mere lips, or empty sound. Zophar asks whether such a man could be justified or vindicated. It will be recollected that taciturnity was with the Orientals a much greater virtue than with us, and that it was regarded as one of the proofs of wisdom. The wise man with them was he who sat down at the feet of age, and desired to learn; who carefully collected the maxims of former times; who diligently observed the course of events; and who deliberated with care on what others had to say. Thus, Solomon says, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise;” Proverbs 10:19; so James 1:19, “let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak.” It was supposed that a man who said much would say some foolish or improper things, and hence, it was regarded as a proof of prudence to be distinguished for silence. In Oriental countries, and it may be added also, in all countries that we regard as uncivilized, it is unusual and disrespectful to be hasty in offering counsel, to be forward to speak, or to be confident and bold in opinion; see the notes at Job 32:6-7. It was for reasons such as these that Zophar maintained that a man who was full of talk could not be justified in it; that there was presumptive proof that he was not a safe man, or a man who could be vindicated in all that he said.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Job 11:2. Should not the multitude of words be answered? — Some translate, "To multiply words profiteth nothing."
And should a man full of talk be justified — איש שפתים ish sephathayim, "a man of lips," a proper appellation for a great talker: he is "a man of lips," i.e., his lips are the only active parts of his system.
