| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 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. | 2"My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer because I am greatly disturbed. |
| 3I have heard the rebuke that reproaches me, And the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer. | 3I hear a rebuke that dishonors me, and my understanding inspires me to reply. |
| 4“Do you not know this of old, Since man was placed on earth, | 4"Surely you know how it has been from of old, ever since mankind 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 mirth 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, | 6Though the pride of the godless person 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 dung; those who have seen 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, no more to be found, banished like a vision of 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 not see him again; his place will look on him no more. |
| 10His children will seek the favor of the poor, And his hands will restore his wealth. | 10His children must make amends to the poor; 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. | 11The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie with him in the dust. |
| 12“Though 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, |
| 13Though he spares it and does not forsake it, But still keeps it in his mouth, | 13though he cannot bear to let it go and lets it linger in his mouth, |
| 14Yet his food in his stomach turns sour; It becomes cobra venom within him. | 14yet his food will turn sour in his stomach; it will become the venom of serpents within him. |
| 15He swallows down riches And vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly. | 15He will spit out the riches he swallowed; God will make his stomach vomit them up. |
| 16He will suck the poison of cobras; The viper’s tongue will slay him. | 16He will suck the poison of serpents; the fangs of an adder 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 cream. |
| 18He will restore that for which he labored, And will not swallow it down; From the proceeds of business He will get no enjoyment. | 18What he toiled for he must give back uneaten; he will not enjoy the profit from his trading. |
| 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 left them destitute; he has seized houses he did not build. |
| 20“Because he knows no quietness in his heart, He will not save anything he desires. | 20"Surely he will have no respite from his craving; he cannot save himself by his treasure. |
| 21Nothing is left for him to eat; Therefore his well-being will not last. | 21Nothing is left for him to devour; his prosperity will not endure. |
| 22In his self-sufficiency he will be in distress; Every hand of misery will come against him. | 22In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake 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. | 23When he has filled his belly, God will vent his burning anger against him and rain down his blows on him. |
| 24He will flee from the iron weapon; A bronze bow will pierce him through. | 24Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow pierces 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 gleaming point out of his liver. Terrors will 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 lies in wait for his treasures. A fire unfanned 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 will expose his guilt; 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. | 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 fate God allots the wicked, the heritage appointed for them by God." |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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