| New International Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: | 1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, |
| 2"My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer because I am greatly disturbed. | 2"Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me respond, Even because of my inward agitation. |
| 3I hear a rebuke that dishonors me, and my understanding inspires me to reply. | 3"I listened to the reproof which insults me, And the spirit of my understanding makes me answer. |
| 4"Surely you know how it has been from of old, ever since mankind was placed on the earth, | 4"Do you know this from of old, From the establishment of man on earth, |
| 5that the mirth of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment. | 5That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless momentary? |
| 6Though the pride of the godless person reaches to 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 have seen him will say, 'Where is he?' | 7He perishes forever like his refuse; Those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?' |
| 8Like a dream he flies away, no more to be found, banished like a vision of 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 not see him again; his place will look on him no more. | 9"The eye which saw him sees him no longer, And his place no longer beholds him. |
| 10His children must make amends to the poor; his own hands must give back his wealth. | 10"His sons favor the poor, And his hands give back his wealth. |
| 11The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie with him in the dust. | 11"His bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it lies down with him in the dust. |
| 12"Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides 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 lets it linger in his mouth, | 13Though he desires it and will not let it go, But holds it in his mouth, |
| 14yet his food will turn sour in his stomach; it will become the venom of serpents within him. | 14Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the venom of cobras within him. |
| 15He will spit out the riches he swallowed; God will make his stomach vomit them up. | 15"He swallows riches, But will vomit them up; God will expel them from his belly. |
| 16He will suck the poison of serpents; the fangs of an adder 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. |
| 18What he toiled for he must give back uneaten; he will not enjoy the profit from 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 the poor and left them destitute; 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. |
| 20"Surely he will have no respite from his craving; he cannot save himself by his treasure. | 20"Because he knew no quiet within him, He does not retain anything he desires. |
| 21Nothing is left for him to devour; his prosperity will not endure. | 21"Nothing remains for him to devour, Therefore his prosperity does not endure. |
| 22In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him; 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 belly, God will vent his burning anger against him and rain down his blows on 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. |
| 24Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him. | 24"He may flee from the iron weapon, But the bronze bow will pierce him. |
| 25He pulls it out of his back, the gleaming point out of his liver. Terrors will 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 lies in wait 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 guilt; the earth will rise up against him. | 27"The heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him. |
| 28A flood will carry off his house, rushing waters 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. |
| 29Such is the fate God allots the wicked, the heritage appointed for them by God." | 29"This is the wicked man's portion from God, Even the heritage decreed to him by God." |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | 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 |
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