| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: | 1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: |
| 2"My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer because I am greatly disturbed. | 2“So my anxious thoughts compel me to answer, because of the turmoil within me. |
| 3I hear a rebuke that dishonors me, and my understanding inspires me to reply. | 3I have heard a rebuke that insults me, and my understanding prompts a reply. |
| 4"Surely you know how it has been from of old, ever since mankind was placed on the earth, | 4Do you not know that from antiquity, since man was placed on the earth, |
| 5that the mirth of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment. | 5the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary? |
| 6Though the pride of the godless person reaches to the heavens and his head touches 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?’ |
| 8Like a dream he flies away, no more to be found, banished 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 not see him again; his place will look on him no more. | 9The eye that saw him will see him no more, and his place will no longer behold him. |
| 10His children must make amends to the poor; his own hands must give back his wealth. | 10His sons will seek the favor of the poor, for his own hands must return his wealth. |
| 11The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie 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 and he hides it under his tongue, | 12Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue, |
| 13though he cannot bear to let it go and lets it linger in his mouth, | 13though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth, |
| 14yet his food will turn sour in his stomach; it will become the venom of serpents within him. | 14yet in his stomach his food sours into the venom of cobras within him. |
| 15He will spit out the riches he swallowed; God will make his stomach vomit them up. | 15He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach. |
| 16He will suck the poison of serpents; the fangs of an adder will kill him. | 16He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will kill him. |
| 17He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream. | 17He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream. |
| 18What he toiled for he must give back uneaten; he will not enjoy the profit from his trading. | 18He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits of his trading. |
| 19For he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute; he has seized houses he did not build. | 19For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build. |
| 20"Surely he will have no respite from his craving; he cannot save himself by his treasure. | 20Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure. |
| 21Nothing is left for him to devour; his prosperity will not endure. | 21Nothing is left for him to consume; thus his prosperity will not endure. |
| 22In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him; the full force of misery will come upon him. | 22In the midst of his plenty, he will be distressed; the full force of misery will come upon him. |
| 23When he has filled his belly, God will vent his burning anger against him and rain down his blows on him. | 23When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats. |
| 24Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him. | 24Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce him. |
| 25He pulls it out of his back, the gleaming point out of his liver. Terrors will come over him; | 25It is drawn out of his back, the gleaming point from his liver. Terrors come over him. |
| 26total darkness lies in wait for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent. | 26Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent. |
| 27The heavens will expose his guilt; the earth will rise up against him. | 27The heavens will expose 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. | 28The possessions of his house will be removed, flowing away on the day of God’s wrath. |
| 29Such is the fate God allots the wicked, the heritage appointed for them by God." | 29This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.” |
|
