Berean Study Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

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

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

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

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

4Do you not know that from antiquity, since man was 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 brief and the joy of the godless momentary?

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

6Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds,

6"Though his loftiness reaches the heavens, 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 perishes forever like his refuse; Those who have seen him will say, '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.

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

9The eye that saw him will see him no more, and his place will no longer behold him.

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

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

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

11The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie down with him in the dust.

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

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

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

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

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

14yet in his stomach his food sours into the venom of cobras within him.

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

15He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

19For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.

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

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

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

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

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

22In the midst of his plenty, he will be distressed; the full force of misery will come upon him.

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

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

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

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

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

25It is drawn out of his back, the gleaming point from his liver. Terrors come over him.

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

26Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.

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 expose his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.

27"The heavens will reveal 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.

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

29This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.”

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

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