International Standard Version

King James Bible

1Then Zophar from Naamath replied:

1Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2"Therefore my anxious thoughts cause me to answer because I'm agitated within me.

2Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.

3Whenever I hear an insulting rebuke, I respond from my spirit because I understand."

3I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.

4"Haven't you known this from ancient times, since mankind was placed on the earth?

4Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

5The wicked triumph only briefly; the joy of the godless is momentary.

5That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

6Though he grow as tall as the sky, or though his head touches the clouds,

6Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

7he'll perish forever, like his own excrement; those who saw him will ask, 'Where is he?'

7Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

8He'll vanish like a dream, and no one will find him; he will be chased away like a night vision."

8He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

9"An eye that gazes at him won't do so again; and his place won't even recognize him.

9The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

10His sons will make amends to the poor; their hands will return his wealth.

10His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.

11Though his bones were full of youthful vigor; yet they will lie down with him in the dust.

11His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.

12Though evil tastes sweet in his mouth, though he conceals it under his tongue,

12Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;

13though he savors it and delays swallowing it so he can taste it again and again in his mouth,

13Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:

14his food will turn rancid in his stomach— it will become a cobra's poison inside him.

14Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.

15"Though he swallows wealth, he will vomit it; God will dislodge it from his stomach.

15He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

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

16He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.

17He won't look at the rivers— the torrents of honey and curd.

17He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.

18"He will restore what he has attained from his work and won't consume it; he won't enjoy the profits from his business transactions,

18That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.

19because he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he didn't build.

19Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;

20"Since his appetite won't quit; he won't let anything escape his lust.

20Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.

21Because nothing was left for him to devour, therefore his prosperity won't last.

21There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.

22Even though he is satiated and self-sufficient, he suffers— everyone in any sort of trouble will attack him.

22In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.

23"It will come about that, when he has filled himself to the full, God will vent his burning anger on him; he will pour it out on him and on his body.

23When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.

24Though he dodges an iron weapon, a bronze arrow will pierce him.

24He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.

25It will impale him and come out through his back; the point will glisten as it protrudes through his gall bladder, and he will be terrified.

25It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.

26"Total darkness has been reserved for his treasures; a fire that has no need to be kindled will devour him and consume whatever remains in his possession.

26All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.

27Heaven will reveal his iniquity, while the earth will rise up against him.

27The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.

28A flood will wash away his house; dragging it away when God becomes angry.

28The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

29This is what the wicked person inherits from God; it is the inheritance that God appoints for him."

29This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.