New King James Version | Christian Standard Bible |
1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: | 1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: |
2“Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer, Because of the turmoil within me. | 2This is why my unsettling thoughts compel me to answer, because I am upset! |
3I have heard the rebuke that reproaches me, And the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer. | 3I have heard a rebuke that insults me, and my understanding makes me reply. |
4“Do you not know this of old, Since man was placed on earth, | 4Don't you know that ever since antiquity, from the time a human was placed on earth, |
5That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment? | 5the joy of the wicked has been brief and the happiness of the godless has lasted only a moment? |
6Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens, And his head reaches to the clouds, | 6Though his arrogance reaches heaven, 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 vanish forever like his own dung. Those who know him will ask, "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. | 8He will fly away like a dream and never be found; he will be chased away like a vision in the night. |
9The eye that saw him will see him no more, Nor will his place behold him anymore. | 9The eye that saw him will see him no more, and his household will no longer see him. |
10His children will seek the favor of the poor, And his hands will restore his wealth. | 10His children will beg from the poor, for his own hands must give back his wealth. |
11His bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it will lie down with him in the dust. | 11His frame may be full of youthful vigor, but it will lie down with him in dust. |
12“Though evil is sweet in his mouth, And he hides it under his tongue, | 12Though evil tastes sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue, |
13Though he spares it and does not forsake it, But still keeps it in his mouth, | 13though he cherishes it and will not let it go but keeps it in his mouth, |
14Yet his food in his stomach turns sour; It becomes cobra venom within him. | 14yet the food in his stomach turns into cobras' venom inside him. |
15He swallows down riches And vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly. | 15He swallows wealth but must vomit it up; God will force it from his stomach. |
16He will suck the poison of cobras; The viper’s tongue will slay him. | 16He will suck the poison of cobras; a viper's fangs will kill him. |
17He will not see the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and cream. | 17He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and curds. |
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 must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he doesn't enjoy the profits from his trading. |
19For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor, He has violently seized a house which he did not build. | 19For he oppressed and abandoned the poor; he seized a house he did not build. |
20“Because he knows no quietness in his heart, He will not save anything he desires. | 20Because his appetite is never satisfied, he does not let anything he desires escape. |
21Nothing is left for him to eat; Therefore his well-being will not last. | 21Nothing is left for him to consume; therefore, his prosperity will not last. |
22In his self-sufficiency he will be in distress; Every hand of misery will come against him. | 22At the height of his success distress will come to him; the full weight of misery will crush 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. | 23When he fills his stomach, God will send his burning anger against him, raining it down on him while he is eating. |
24He will flee from the iron weapon; A bronze bow will pierce him through. | 24If he flees from an iron weapon, an arrow from a bronze bow will pierce him. |
25It is drawn, and comes out of the body; Yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors come upon him; | 25He pulls it out of his back, the flashing tip 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 is reserved for his treasures. A fire unfanned by human hands will consume him; it will feed on what is left in his tent. |
27The heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him. | 27The heavens will expose his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him. |
28The increase of his house will depart, And his goods will flow away in the day of His wrath. | 28The possessions in his house will be removed, flowing away on the day of God's anger. |
29This is the portion from God for a wicked man, The heritage appointed to him by God.” | 29This is the wicked person's lot from God, the inheritance God ordained for him. |
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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