| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered: | 1Then Zophar from Naamath replied: |
| 2"This is why my troubled thoughts bring me back--because of my feelings within me. | 2"Therefore my anxious thoughts cause me to answer because I'm agitated within me. |
| 3When I hear a reproof that dishonors me, then my understanding prompts me to answer. | 3Whenever I hear an insulting rebuke, I respond from my spirit because I understand." |
| 4"Surely you know that it has been from old, ever since humankind was placed on the earth, | 4"Haven't you known this from ancient times, since mankind was placed on the earth? |
| 5that the elation of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment. | 5The wicked triumph only briefly; the joy of the godless is momentary. |
| 6Even though his stature reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds, | 6Though he grow as tall as the sky, or though his head touches the clouds, |
| 7he will perish forever, like his own excrement; those who used to see him will say, 'Where is he?' | 7he'll perish forever, like his own excrement; those who saw him will ask, 'Where is he?' |
| 8Like a dream he flies away, never again to be found, and like a vision of the night he is put to flight. | 8He'll vanish like a dream, and no one will find him; he will be chased away like a night vision." |
| 9People who had seen him will not see him again, and the place where he was will recognize him no longer. | 9"An eye that gazes at him won't do so again; and his place won't even recognize him. |
| 10His sons must recompense the poor; his own hands must return his wealth. | 10His sons will make amends to the poor; their hands will return his wealth. |
| 11His bones were full of his youthful vigor, but that vigor 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"If evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue, | 12Though evil tastes sweet in his mouth, though he conceals it under his tongue, |
| 13if he retains it for himself and does not let it go, and holds it fast in his mouth, | 13though he savors it and delays swallowing it so he can taste it again and again in his mouth, |
| 14his food is turned sour in his stomach; it becomes the venom of serpents within him. | 14his food will turn rancid in his stomach— it will become a cobra's poison inside him. |
| 15The wealth that he consumed he vomits up, God will make him throw it out of his stomach. | 15"Though he swallows wealth, he will vomit it; God will dislodge it from his stomach. |
| 16He sucks the poison of serpents; the fangs of a viper kill him. | 16He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will slay him. |
| 17He will not look on the streams, the rivers, which are the torrents of honey and butter. | 17He won't look at the rivers— the torrents of honey and curd. |
| 18He gives back the ill-gotten gain without assimilating it; he will not enjoy the wealth from his commerce. | 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 oppressed the poor and abandoned them; he has seized a house which he did not build. | 19because he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he didn't build. |
| 20For he knows no satisfaction in his appetite; he does not let anything he desires escape. | 20"Since his appetite won't quit; he won't let anything escape his lust. |
| 21"Nothing is left for him to devour; that is why his prosperity does not last. | 21Because nothing was left for him to devour, therefore his prosperity won't last. |
| 22In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress overtakes him. the full force of misery will come upon him. | 22Even though he is satiated and self-sufficient, he suffers— everyone in any sort of trouble will attack him. |
| 23"While he is filling his belly, God sends his burning anger against him, and rains down his blows upon him. | 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. |
| 24If he flees from an iron weapon, then an arrow from a bronze bow pierces him. | 24Though he dodges an iron weapon, a bronze arrow will pierce him. |
| 25When he pulls it out and it comes out of his back, the gleaming point out of his liver, terrors come over 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. |
| 26Total darkness waits to receive his treasures; a fire which has not been kindled will consume him and devour what is left in his tent. | 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 reveal his iniquity; the earth rises up against him. | 27Heaven will reveal his iniquity, while the earth will rise up against him. |
| 28A flood will carry off his house, rushing waters on the day of God's wrath. | 28A flood will wash away his house; dragging it away when God becomes angry. |
| 29Such is the lot God allots the wicked, and the heritage of his appointment from God." | 29This is what the wicked person inherits from God; it is the inheritance that God appoints for him." |
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