New Living Translation

Holman Christian Standard Bible

1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

2“I must reply because I am greatly disturbed.

2This is why my unsettling thoughts compel me to answer, because I am upset!

3I’ve had to endure your insults, but now my spirit prompts me to reply.

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

4“Don’t you realize that from the beginning of time, ever since people were first 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 short lived and the joy of the godless has been only temporary?

5the joy of the wicked has been brief and the happiness of the godless has lasted only a moment?

6Though the pride of the godless reaches to the heavens and their heads touch the clouds,

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

7yet they will vanish forever, thrown away like their own dung. Those who knew them will ask, ‘Where are they?’

7he will vanish forever like his own dung. Those who know him will ask, "Where is he?"

8They will fade like a dream and not be found. They will vanish 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.

9Those who once saw them will see them no more. Their families will never see them again.

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

10Their children will beg from the poor, for they must give back their stolen riches.

10His children will beg from the poor, for his own hands must give back his wealth.

11Though they are young, their bones will lie in the dust.

11His bones may be full of youthful vigor, but will lie down with him in the grave.

12“They enjoyed the sweet taste of wickedness, letting it melt under their tongue.

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

13They savored it, holding it long in their mouths.

13though he cherishes it and will not let it go but keeps it in his mouth,

14But suddenly the food in their bellies turns sour, a poisonous venom in their stomach.

14yet the food in his stomach turns into cobras' venom inside him.

15They will vomit the wealth they swallowed. God won’t let them keep it down.

15He swallows wealth but must vomit it up; God will force it from his stomach.

16They will suck the poison of cobras. The viper will kill them.

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

17They will never again enjoy streams of olive oil or rivers of milk and honey.

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

18They will give back everything they worked for. Their wealth will bring them no joy.

18He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he doesn't enjoy the profits from his trading.

19For they oppressed the poor and left them destitute. They foreclosed on their homes.

19For he oppressed and abandoned the poor; he seized a house he did not build.

20They were always greedy and never satisfied. Nothing remains of all the things they dreamed about.

20Because his appetite is never satisfied, he does not let anything he desires escape.

21Nothing is left after they finish gorging themselves. Therefore, their prosperity will not endure.

21Nothing is left for him to consume; therefore, his prosperity will not last.

22“In the midst of plenty, they will run into trouble and be overcome by misery.

22At the height of his success distress will come to him; the full weight of misery will crush him.

23May God give them a bellyful of trouble. May God rain down his anger upon them.

23When he fills his stomach, God will send His burning anger against him, raining it down on him while he is eating.

24When they try to escape an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce them.

24If he flees from an iron weapon, an arrow from a bronze bow will pierce him.

25The arrow is pulled from their back, and the arrowhead glistens with blood. The terrors of death are upon them.

25He pulls it out of his back, the flashing tip out of his liver. Terrors come over him.

26Their treasures will be thrown into deepest darkness. A wildfire will devour their goods, consuming all they have left.

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 reveal their guilt, and the earth will testify against them.

27The heavens will expose his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.

28A flood will sweep away their house. God’s anger will descend on them in torrents.

28The possessions in his house will be removed, flowing away on the day of God's anger.

29This is the reward that God gives the wicked. It is the inheritance decreed by God.”

29This is the wicked man's lot from God, the inheritance God ordained for him.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.