Job 20
1 Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,
| ויען צפר הנעמתי ויאמר |
2 I did not suppose that you would answer thus: neither do you understand more than I.
| לכן שעפי ישיבוני ובעבור חושי בי |
3 I will hear my shameful reproach; and the spirit of my understanding answers me.
| מוסר כלמתי אשמע ורוח מבינתי יענני |
4 Hast you [not] known these things of old, from the time that man was set upon the earth?
| הזאת ידעת מני-עד מני שים אדם עלי-ארץ |
5 But the mirth of the ungodly is a signal downfall, and the joy of transgressors is destruction:
| כי רננת רשעים מקרוב ושמחת חנף עדי-רגע |
6 although his gifts should go up to heaven, and his sacrifice reach the clouds.
| אם-יעלה לשמים שיאו וראשו לעב יגיע |
7 For when he shall seem to be now established, then he shall utterly perish: and they that knew him shall say, Where is he?
| כגללו לנצח יאבד ראיו יאמרו איו |
8 Like a dream that has fled away, he shall not be found; and he has fled like a vision of the night.
| כחלום יעוף ולא ימצאהו וידד כחזיון לילה |
9 The eye has looked upon him, but shall not [see him] again; and his place shall no longer perceive him.
| עין שזפתו ולא תוסיף ולא-עוד תשורנו מקומו |
10 Let [his] inferiors destroy his children, and let his hands kindle the fire of sorrow.
| בניו ירצו דלים וידיו תשבנה אונו |
11 His bones have been filled with [vigour of] his youth, and it shall lie down with him in the dust.
| עצמותיו מלאו עלומו ועמו על-עפר תשכב |
12 Though evil be sweet in his mouth, [though] he will hide it under his tongue;
| אם-תמתיק בפיו רעה-- יכחידנה תחת לשנו |
13 though he will not spare it, and will not leave it, but will keep it in the midst of his throat:
| יחמל עליה ולא יעזבנה וימנענה בתוך חכו |
14 yet he shall not at all be able to help himself; the gall of an asp is in his belly.
| לחמו במעיו נהפך מרורת פתנים בקרבו |
15 [His] wealth unjustly collected shall be vomited up; a messenger [of wrath] shall drag him out of his house.
| חיל בלע ויקאנו מבטנו ירשנו אל |
16 And let him suck the poison of serpents, and let the serpent's tongue kill him.
| ראש-פתנים יינק תהרגהו לשון אפעה |
17 Let him not see the milk of the pastures, nor the supplies of honey and butter.
| אל-ירא בפלגות-- נהרי נחלי דבש וחמאה |
18 He has laboured unprofitably and in vain, [for] wealth of which he shall not taste: [it is] as a lean thing, unfit for food, which he can’t swallow.
| משיב יגע ולא יבלע כחיל תמורתו ולא יעלס |
19 For he has broken down the houses of many mighty men: and he has plundered an habitation, though he built [it] not.
| כי-רצץ עזב דלים בית גזל ולא יבנהו |
20 There is no security to his possessions; he shall not be saved by his desire.
| כי לא-ידע שלו בבטנו בחמודו לא ימלט |
21 There is nothing remaining of his provisions; therefore his goods shall not flourish.
| אין-שריד לאכלו על-כן לא-יחיל טובו |
22 But when he shall seem to be just satisfied, he shall be straitened; and all distress shall come upon him.
| במלאות שפקו יצר לו כל-יד עמל תבאנו |
23 If by any means he would fill his belly, let [God] send upon him the fury of wrath; let him bring a torrent of pains upon him.
| יהי למלא בטנו--ישלח-בו חרון אפו וימטר עלימו בלחומו |
24 And he shall by no means escape from the power of the sword; let the brazen bow wound him.
| יברח מנשק ברזל תחלפהו קשת נחושה |
25 And let the arrow pierce through his body; and let the stars be against his dwelling-place: let terrors come upon him.
| שלף ויצא מגוה וברק ממררתו יהלך עליו אמים |
26 And let all darkness wait for him: a fire that burns not out shall consume him; and let a stranger plague his house.
| כל-חשך טמון לצפוניו תאכלהו אש לא-נפח ירע שריד באהלו |
27 And let the heaven reveal his iniquities, and the earth rise up against him.
| יגלו שמים עונו וארץ מתקוממה לו |
28 Let destruction bring his house to an end; let a day of wrath come upon him.
| יגל יבול ביתו נגרות ביום אפו |
29 This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of his goods [appointed him] by the all-seeing [God].
| זה חלק-אדם רשע--מאלהים ונחלת אמרו מאל |
