| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: | 1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered: |
| 2“Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer, Because of the turmoil within me. | 2"This is why my troubled thoughts bring me back--because of my feelings within me. |
| 3I have heard the rebuke that reproaches me, And the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer. | 3When I hear a reproof that dishonors me, then my understanding prompts me to answer. |
| 4“Do you not know this of old, Since man was placed on earth, | 4"Surely you know that it has been from old, ever since humankind was placed on the earth, |
| 5That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment? | 5that the elation of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment. |
| 6Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens, And his head reaches to the clouds, | 6Even though his stature reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds, |
| 7Yet he will perish forever like his own refuse; Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’ | 7he will perish forever, like his own excrement; those who used to see him will say, 'Where is he?' |
| 8He will fly away like a dream, and not be found; Yes, he will be chased away like a vision of the night. | 8Like a dream he flies away, never again to be found, and like a vision of the night he is put to flight. |
| 9The eye that saw him will see him no more, Nor will his place behold him anymore. | 9People who had seen him will not see him again, and the place where he was will recognize him no longer. |
| 10His children will seek the favor of the poor, And his hands will restore his wealth. | 10His sons must recompense the poor; 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. | 11His bones were full of his youthful vigor, but that vigor will lie down with him in the dust. |
| 12“Though evil is sweet in his mouth, And he hides it under his tongue, | 12"If evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue, |
| 13Though he spares it and does not forsake it, But still keeps it in his mouth, | 13if he retains it for himself and does not let it go, and holds it fast in his mouth, |
| 14Yet his food in his stomach turns sour; It becomes cobra venom within him. | 14his food is turned sour in his stomach; it becomes the venom of serpents within him. |
| 15He swallows down riches And vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly. | 15The wealth that he consumed he vomits up, God will make him throw it out of his stomach. |
| 16He will suck the poison of cobras; The viper’s tongue will slay him. | 16He sucks the poison of serpents; the fangs of a viper kill him. |
| 17He will not see the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and cream. | 17He will not look on the streams, the rivers, which are the torrents of honey and butter. |
| 18He will restore that for which he labored, And will not swallow it down; From the proceeds of business He will get no enjoyment. | 18He gives back the ill-gotten gain without assimilating it; he will not enjoy the wealth from his commerce. |
| 19For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor, He has violently seized a house which he did not build. | 19For he has oppressed the poor and abandoned them; he has seized a house which he did not build. |
| 20“Because he knows no quietness in his heart, He will not save anything he desires. | 20For he knows no satisfaction in his appetite; he does not let anything he desires escape. |
| 21Nothing is left for him to eat; Therefore his well-being will not last. | 21"Nothing is left for him to devour; that is why his prosperity does not last. |
| 22In his self-sufficiency he will be in distress; Every hand of misery will come against him. | 22In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress overtakes him. the full force of misery will come upon him. |
| 23When he is about to fill his stomach, God will cast on him the fury of His wrath, And will rain it on him while he is eating. | 23"While he is filling his belly, God sends his burning anger against him, and rains down his blows upon him. |
| 24He will flee from the iron weapon; A bronze bow will pierce him through. | 24If he flees from an iron weapon, then an arrow from a bronze bow pierces him. |
| 25It is drawn, and comes out of the body; Yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors come upon him; | 25When he pulls it out and it comes out of his back, the gleaming point out of his liver, terrors come over him. |
| 26Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. An unfanned fire will consume him; It shall go ill with him who is left in his tent. | 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. |
| 27The heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him. | 27The heavens reveal his iniquity; the earth rises up against him. |
| 28The increase of his house will depart, And his goods will flow away in the day of His wrath. | 28A flood will carry off his house, rushing waters on the day of God's wrath. |
| 29This is the portion from God for a wicked man, The heritage appointed to him by God.” | 29Such is the lot God allots the wicked, and the heritage of his appointment from God." |
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