New American Standard Bible 1995 | International Standard Version |
1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, | 1Then Zophar from Naamath replied: |
2"Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me respond, Even because of my inward agitation. | 2"Therefore my anxious thoughts cause me to answer because I'm agitated within me. |
3"I listened to the reproof which insults me, And the spirit of my understanding makes me answer. | 3Whenever I hear an insulting rebuke, I respond from my spirit because I understand." |
4"Do you know this from of old, From the establishment of man on earth, | 4"Haven't you known this from ancient times, since mankind was placed on the earth? |
5That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless momentary? | 5The wicked triumph only briefly; the joy of the godless is momentary. |
6"Though his loftiness reaches the heavens, And his head touches the clouds, | 6Though he grow as tall as the sky, or though his head touches the clouds, |
7He perishes forever like his refuse; Those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?' | 7he'll perish forever, like his own excrement; those who saw him will ask, 'Where is he?' |
8"He flies away like a dream, and they cannot find him; Even like a vision of the night he is chased away. | 8He'll vanish like a dream, and no one will find him; he will be chased away like a night vision." |
9"The eye which saw him sees him no longer, And his place no longer beholds him. | 9"An eye that gazes at him won't do so again; and his place won't even recognize him. |
10"His sons favor the poor, And his hands give back his wealth. | 10His sons will make amends to the poor; their hands will return his wealth. |
11"His bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it lies down with him in the dust. | 11Though his bones were full of youthful vigor; yet they will lie down with him in the dust. |
12"Though evil is sweet in his mouth And he hides it under his tongue, | 12Though evil tastes sweet in his mouth, though he conceals it under his tongue, |
13Though he desires it and will not let it go, But holds it in his mouth, | 13though he savors it and delays swallowing it so he can taste it again and again in his mouth, |
14Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the venom of cobras within him. | 14his food will turn rancid in his stomach— it will become a cobra's poison inside him. |
15"He swallows riches, But will vomit them up; God will expel them from his belly. | 15"Though he swallows wealth, he will vomit it; God will dislodge it from his stomach. |
16"He sucks the poison of cobras; The viper's tongue slays him. | 16He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will slay him. |
17"He does not look at the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and curds. | 17He won't look at the rivers— the torrents of honey and curd. |
18"He returns what he has attained And cannot swallow it; As to the riches of his trading, He cannot even enjoy them. | 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, |
19"For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built. | 19because he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he didn't build. |
20"Because he knew no quiet within him, He does not retain anything he desires. | 20"Since his appetite won't quit; he won't let anything escape his lust. |
21"Nothing remains for him to devour, Therefore his prosperity does not endure. | 21Because nothing was left for him to devour, therefore his prosperity won't last. |
22"In the fullness of his plenty he will be cramped; The hand of everyone who suffers will come against him. | 22Even though he is satiated and self-sufficient, he suffers— everyone in any sort of trouble will attack him. |
23"When he fills his belly, God will send His fierce anger on him And will rain it on him while he is eating. | 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. |
24"He may flee from the iron weapon, But the bronze bow will pierce him. | 24Though he dodges an iron weapon, a bronze arrow will pierce him. |
25"It is drawn forth and comes out of his back, Even the glittering point from his gall. Terrors come upon him, | 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. |
26Complete darkness is held in reserve for his treasures, And unfanned fire will devour him; It will consume the survivor in his tent. | 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. |
27"The heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him. | 27Heaven will reveal his iniquity, while the earth will rise up against him. |
28"The increase of his house will depart; His possessions will flow away in the day of His anger. | 28A flood will wash away his house; dragging it away when God becomes angry. |
29"This is the wicked man's portion from God, Even the heritage decreed to him by God." | 29This is what the wicked person inherits from God; it is the inheritance that God appoints for him." |
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 | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
|