English Standard Version

Berean Study Bible

1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

2“Therefore my thoughts answer me, because of my haste within me.

2“So my anxious thoughts compel me to answer, because of the turmoil within me.

3I hear censure that insults me, and out of my understanding a spirit answers me.

3I have heard a rebuke that insults me, and my understanding prompts a reply.

4Do you not know this from of old, since man was placed on earth,

4Do you not know that from antiquity, since man was placed on the earth,

5that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment?

5the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?

6Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,

6Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds,

7he will perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’

7he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’

8He will fly away like a dream and not be found; he will be chased away like a vision of the night.

8He will fly away like a dream, never to be found; he will be chased away like a vision in the night.

9The eye that saw him will see him no more, nor will his place any more behold him.

9The eye that saw him will see him no more, and his place will no longer behold him.

10His children will seek the favor of the poor, and his hands will give back his wealth.

10His sons will seek the favor of the poor, for his own hands must return his wealth.

11His bones are full of his youthful vigor, but it will lie down with him in the dust.

11The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie down with him in the dust.

12“Though evil is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue,

12Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue,

13though he is loath to let it go and holds it in his mouth,

13though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth,

14yet his food is turned in his stomach; it is the venom of cobras within him.

14yet in his stomach his food sours into the venom of cobras within him.

15He swallows down riches and vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly.

15He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.

16He will suck the poison of cobras; the tongue of a viper will kill him.

16He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will kill him.

17He will not look upon the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds.

17He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.

18He will give back the fruit of his toil and will not swallow it down; from the profit of his trading he will get no enjoyment.

18He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits of his trading.

19For he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he did not build.

19For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.

20“Because he knew no contentment in his belly, he will not let anything in which he delights escape him.

20Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure.

21There was nothing left after he had eaten; therefore his prosperity will not endure.

21Nothing is left for him to consume; thus his prosperity will not endure.

22In the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in distress; the hand of everyone in misery will come against him.

22In the midst of his plenty, he will be distressed; the full force of misery will come upon him.

23To fill his belly to the full, God will send his burning anger against him and rain it upon him into his body.

23When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats.

24He will flee from an iron weapon; a bronze arrow will strike him through.

24Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce him.

25It is drawn forth and comes out of his body; the glittering point comes out of his gallbladder; terrors come upon him.

25It is drawn out of his back, the gleaming point from his liver. Terrors come over him.

26Utter darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not fanned will devour him; what is left in his tent will be consumed.

26Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.

27The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.

27The heavens will expose his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.

28The possessions of his house will be carried away, dragged off in the day of God’s wrath.

28The possessions of his house will be removed, flowing away on the day of God’s wrath.

29This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the heritage decreed for him by God.”

29This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.”

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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