NET Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:

1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

2"This is why my troubled thoughts bring me back--because of my feelings within me.

2"Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me respond, Even because of my inward agitation.

3When I hear a reproof that dishonors me, then my understanding prompts me to answer.

3"I listened to the reproof which insults me, And the spirit of my understanding makes me answer.

4"Surely you know that it has been from old, ever since humankind was placed on the earth,

4"Do you know this from of old, From the establishment of man on earth,

5that the elation of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment.

5That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless momentary?

6Even though his stature reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds,

6"Though his loftiness reaches the heavens, And 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 perishes forever like his refuse; Those who have seen him will say, '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.

8"He flies away like a dream, and they cannot find him; Even like a vision of the night he is chased away.

9People who had seen him will not see him again, and the place where he was will recognize him no longer.

9"The eye which saw him sees him no longer, And his place no longer beholds him.

10His sons must recompense the poor; his own hands must return his wealth.

10"His sons favor the poor, And his hands give back his wealth.

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

11"His bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it lies down with him in the dust.

12"If evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue,

12"Though evil is sweet in his mouth And he hides 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 desires it and will not let it go, But holds it in his mouth,

14his food is turned sour in his stomach; it becomes the venom of serpents within him.

14Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the venom of cobras within him.

15The wealth that he consumed he vomits up, God will make him throw it out of his stomach.

15"He swallows riches, But will vomit them up; God will expel them from his belly.

16He sucks the poison of serpents; the fangs of a viper kill him.

16"He sucks the poison of cobras; The viper's tongue slays him.

17He will not look on the streams, the rivers, which are the torrents of honey and butter.

17"He does not look at the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and curds.

18He gives back the ill-gotten gain without assimilating it; he will not enjoy the wealth from his commerce.

18"He returns what he has attained And cannot swallow it; As to the riches of his trading, He cannot even enjoy them.

19For he has oppressed the poor and abandoned them; he has seized a house which he did not build.

19"For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built.

20For he knows no satisfaction in his appetite; he does not let anything he desires escape.

20"Because he knew no quiet within him, He does not retain anything he desires.

21"Nothing is left for him to devour; that is why his prosperity does not last.

21"Nothing remains for him to devour, Therefore his prosperity does not endure.

22In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress overtakes him. the full force of misery will come upon him.

22"In the fullness of his plenty he will be cramped; The hand of everyone who suffers will come against him.

23"While he is filling his belly, God sends his burning anger against him, and rains down his blows upon him.

23"When he fills his belly, God will send His fierce anger on him And will rain it on him while he is eating.

24If he flees from an iron weapon, then an arrow from a bronze bow pierces him.

24"He may flee from the iron weapon, But the bronze bow 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.

25"It is drawn forth and comes out of his back, Even the glittering point from his gall. Terrors come upon him,

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.

26Complete darkness is held in reserve for his treasures, And unfanned fire will devour him; It will consume the survivor in his tent.

27The heavens reveal his iniquity; the earth rises up against him.

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

28A flood will carry off his house, rushing waters on the day of God's wrath.

28"The increase of his house will depart; His possessions will flow away in the day of His anger.

29Such is the lot God allots the wicked, and the heritage of his appointment from God."

29"This is the wicked man's portion from God, Even the heritage decreed to him by God."

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