| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: | 1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: |
| 2“So my anxious thoughts compel me to answer, because of the turmoil within me. | 2This is why my unsettling thoughts compel me to answer, because I am upset! |
| 3I have heard a rebuke that insults me, and my understanding prompts a reply. | 3I have heard a rebuke that insults me, and my understanding makes me reply. |
| 4Do you not know that from antiquity, since man was placed on the earth, | 4Don't you know that ever since antiquity, from the time man was placed on earth, |
| 5the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary? | 5the joy of the wicked has been brief and the happiness of the godless has lasted only a moment? |
| 6Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds, | 6Though his arrogance reaches heaven, and his head touches the clouds, |
| 7he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘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, never to be found; he will be chased away like a vision in 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, and his place will no longer behold him. | 9The eye that saw him will see him no more, and his household will no longer see him. |
| 10His sons will seek the favor of the poor, for his own hands must return his wealth. | 10His children will beg from the poor, for his own hands must give back his wealth. |
| 11The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie down with him in the dust. | 11His bones may be full of youthful vigor, but will lie down with him in the grave. |
| 12Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue, | 12Though evil tastes sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue, |
| 13though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth, | 13though he cherishes it and will not let it go but keeps it in his mouth, |
| 14yet in his stomach his food sours into the venom of cobras within him. | 14yet the food in his stomach turns into cobras' venom inside him. |
| 15He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach. | 15He swallows wealth but must vomit it up; God will force 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; a viper's fangs will kill him. |
| 17He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream. | 17He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream. |
| 18He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits of his trading. | 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 seized houses he did not build. | 19For he oppressed and abandoned the poor; he seized a house he did not build. |
| 20Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure. | 20Because his appetite is never satisfied, he does not let anything he desires escape. |
| 21Nothing is left for him to consume; thus his prosperity will not endure. | 21Nothing is left for him to consume; therefore, his prosperity will not last. |
| 22In the midst of his plenty, he will be distressed; the full force of misery will come upon him. | 22At the height of his success distress will come to him; the full weight of misery will crush him. |
| 23When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats. | 23When he fills his stomach, God will send His burning anger against him, raining it down on him while he is eating. |
| 24Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce him. | 24If he flees from an iron weapon, an arrow from a bronze bow will pierce him. |
| 25It is drawn out of his back, the gleaming point from his liver. Terrors come over 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. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what 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 expose 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 possessions of his house will be removed, flowing away on the day of God’s wrath. | 28The possessions in his house will be removed, flowing away on the day of God's anger. |
| 29This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.” | 29This is the wicked man's lot from God, the inheritance God ordained for him. |
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