Berean Standard Bible

International Standard Version

1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

1Then Zophar from Naamath replied:

2“So my anxious thoughts compel me to answer, because of the turmoil within me.

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

3I have heard a rebuke that insults me, and my understanding prompts a reply.

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

4Do you not know that from antiquity, since man was placed on the earth,

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

5the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?

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

6Though his arrogance reaches 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 dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘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, never to be found; he will be chased away like a vision in 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, and his place will no longer behold him.

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

10His sons will seek the favor of the poor, for his own hands must return his wealth.

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

11The youthful vigor that fills his bones 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.

12Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue,

12Though evil tastes sweet in his mouth, though he conceals it under his tongue,

13though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth,

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

14yet in his stomach his food sours into 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 wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.

15"Though he swallows wealth, he will vomit it; God will dislodge it from his stomach.

16He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will kill him.

16He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will slay him.

17He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.

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

18He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits of his trading.

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 and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.

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

20Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure.

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

21Nothing is left for him to consume; thus his prosperity will not endure.

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

22In the midst of his plenty, he will be distressed; 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.

23When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats.

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.

24Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce him.

24Though he dodges an iron weapon, a bronze arrow will pierce him.

25It is drawn out of his back, the gleaming point from 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 is reserved for his treasures. A fire unfanned 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 will expose 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 removed, flowing away on 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 inheritance God has appointed him.”

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

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