New Living Translation

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

2“I must reply because I am greatly disturbed.

2"Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me respond, Even because of my inward agitation.

3I’ve had to endure your insults, but now my spirit prompts me to reply.

3"I listened to the reproof which insults me, And the spirit of my understanding makes me answer.

4“Don’t you realize that from the beginning of time, ever since people were first placed on the earth,

4"Do you know this from of old, From the establishment of man on earth,

5the triumph of the wicked has been short lived and the joy of the godless has been only temporary?

5That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless momentary?

6Though the pride of the godless reaches to the heavens and their heads touch the clouds,

6"Though his loftiness reaches the heavens, And his head touches the clouds,

7yet they will vanish forever, thrown away like their own dung. Those who knew them will ask, ‘Where are they?’

7He perishes forever like his refuse; Those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'

8They will fade like a dream and not be found. They will vanish like a vision in the night.

8"He flies away like a dream, and they cannot find him; Even like a vision of the night he is chased away.

9Those who once saw them will see them no more. Their families will never see them again.

9"The eye which saw him sees him no longer, And his place no longer beholds him.

10Their children will beg from the poor, for they must give back their stolen riches.

10"His sons favor the poor, And his hands give back his wealth.

11Though they are young, their bones will lie in the dust.

11"His bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it lies down with him in the dust.

12“They enjoyed the sweet taste of wickedness, letting it melt under their tongue.

12"Though evil is sweet in his mouth And he hides it under his tongue,

13They savored it, holding it long in their mouths.

13Though he desires it and will not let it go, But holds it in his mouth,

14But suddenly the food in their bellies turns sour, a poisonous venom in their stomach.

14Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the venom of cobras within him.

15They will vomit the wealth they swallowed. God won’t let them keep it down.

15"He swallows riches, But will vomit them up; God will expel them from his belly.

16They will suck the poison of cobras. The viper will kill them.

16"He sucks the poison of cobras; The viper's tongue slays him.

17They will never again enjoy streams of olive oil or rivers of milk and honey.

17"He does not look at the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and curds.

18They will give back everything they worked for. Their wealth will bring them no joy.

18"He returns what he has attained And cannot swallow it; As to the riches of his trading, He cannot even enjoy them.

19For they oppressed the poor and left them destitute. They foreclosed on their homes.

19"For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built.

20They were always greedy and never satisfied. Nothing remains of all the things they dreamed about.

20"Because he knew no quiet within him, He does not retain anything he desires.

21Nothing is left after they finish gorging themselves. Therefore, their prosperity will not endure.

21"Nothing remains for him to devour, Therefore his prosperity does not endure.

22“In the midst of plenty, they will run into trouble and be overcome by misery.

22"In the fullness of his plenty he will be cramped; The hand of everyone who suffers will come against him.

23May God give them a bellyful of trouble. May God rain down his anger upon them.

23"When he fills his belly, God will send His fierce anger on him And will rain it on him while he is eating.

24When they try to escape an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce them.

24"He may flee from the iron weapon, But the bronze bow will pierce him.

25The arrow is pulled from their back, and the arrowhead glistens with blood. The terrors of death are upon them.

25"It is drawn forth and comes out of his back, Even the glittering point from his gall. Terrors come upon him,

26Their treasures will be thrown into deepest darkness. A wildfire will devour their goods, consuming all they have left.

26Complete darkness is held in reserve for his treasures, And unfanned fire will devour him; It will consume the survivor in his tent.

27The heavens will reveal their guilt, and the earth will testify against them.

27"The heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him.

28A flood will sweep away their house. God’s anger will descend on them in torrents.

28"The increase of his house will depart; His possessions will flow away in the day of His anger.

29This is the reward that God gives the wicked. It is the inheritance decreed by God.”

29"This is the wicked man's portion from God, Even the heritage decreed to him by God."

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org