English Standard Version

International Standard Version

1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

1Then Zophar from Naamath replied:

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

2"Therefore my anxious thoughts cause me to answer because I'm agitated within me.

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

3Whenever I hear an insulting rebuke, I respond from my spirit because I understand."

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

4"Haven't you known this from ancient times, since mankind was placed on the earth?

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

5The wicked triumph only briefly; the joy of the godless is momentary.

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

6Though he grow as tall as the sky, or though his head touches the clouds,

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

7he'll perish forever, like his own excrement; those who saw 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'll vanish like a dream, and no one will find him; he will be chased away like a night vision."

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

9"An eye that gazes at him won't do so again; and his place won't even recognize him.

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

10His sons will make amends to the poor; their hands will return his wealth.

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

11Though his bones were full of youthful vigor; yet they 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 tastes sweet in his mouth, though he conceals it under his tongue,

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

13though he savors it and delays swallowing it so he can taste it again and again in his mouth,

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

14his food will turn rancid in his stomach— it will become a cobra's poison inside him.

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

15"Though he swallows wealth, he will vomit it; God will dislodge 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 slay him.

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

17He won't look at the rivers— the torrents of honey and curd.

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.

18"He will restore what he has attained from his work and won't consume it; he won't enjoy the profits from his business transactions,

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

19because he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he didn't build.

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

20"Since his appetite won't quit; he won't let anything escape his lust.

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

21Because nothing was left for him to devour, therefore his prosperity won't last.

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

22Even though he is satiated and self-sufficient, he suffers— everyone in any sort of trouble will attack him.

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

23"It will come about that, when he has filled himself to the full, God will vent his burning anger on him; he will pour it out on him and on his body.

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

24Though he dodges an iron weapon, a bronze 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 will impale him and come out through his back; the point will glisten as it protrudes through his gall bladder, and he will be terrified.

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

26"Total darkness has been reserved for his treasures; a fire that has no need to be kindled will devour him and consume whatever remains in his possession.

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

27Heaven will reveal his iniquity, while 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.

28A flood will wash away his house; dragging it away when God becomes angry.

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

29This is what the wicked person inherits from God; it is the inheritance that God appoints for 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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