< Job 20 >

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:
ויען צפר הנעמתי ויאמר׃
2 For this do my thoughts lead me to reply, And for this is my ardor within me.
לכן שעפי ישיבוני ובעבור חושי בי׃
3 I have heard my shameful rebuke; And the spirit, from my understanding, answereth for me.
מוסר כלמתי אשמע ורוח מבינתי יענני׃
4 Knowest thou not, that from the days of old, From the time when man was placed upon the earth,
הזאת ידעת מני עד מני שים אדם עלי ארץ׃
5 The triumphing of the wicked hath been short, And the joy of the impious but for a moment?
כי רננת רשעים מקרוב ושמחת חנף עדי רגע׃
6 Though his greatness mount up to the heavens, And his head reach to the clouds,
אם יעלה לשמים שיאו וראשו לעב יגיע׃
7 Yet shall he perish for ever, and be mingled with dust; They who saw him shall say, Where is he?
כגללו לנצח יאבד ראיו יאמרו איו׃
8 He shall flee away like a dream, and shall not be found; Yea, he shall disappear like a vision of the nigh.
כחלום יעוף ולא ימצאוהו וידד כחזיון לילה׃
9 The eye also which saw him shall see him no more, And his dwelling-place shall never more behold him.
עין שזפתו ולא תוסיף ולא עוד תשורנו מקומו׃
10 His sons shall seek the favor of the poor, And their hands shall give back his wealth.
בניו ירצו דלים וידיו תשבנה אונו׃
11 His bones are full of his youth, But they shall lie down with him in the dust.
עצמותיו מלאו עלומו ועמו על עפר תשכב׃
12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, Though he hide it under his tongue,
אם תמתיק בפיו רעה יכחידנה תחת לשונו׃
13 Though he cherish it, and will not part with it, And keep it fast in his mouth,
יחמל עליה ולא יעזבנה וימנענה בתוך חכו׃
14 Yet his meat shall be changed within him, And become to him the poison of asps.
לחמו במעיו נהפך מרורת פתנים בקרבו׃
15 He hath glutted himself with riches, And he shall throw them up again; Yea, God shall cast them out of his body.
חיל בלע ויקאנו מבטנו יורשנו אל׃
16 He shall suck the poison of asps; The tongue of the viper shall destroy him.
ראש פתנים יינק תהרגהו לשון אפעה׃
17 He shall never see the flowing streams, And the rivers of honey and milk.
אל ירא בפלגות נהרי נחלי דבש וחמאה׃
18 The fruits of his toil he shall give back, and shall not enjoy them: It is substance to be restored, and he shall not rejoice therein.
משיב יגע ולא יבלע כחיל תמורתו ולא יעלס׃
19 Because he hath oppressed and abandoned the poor, And seized upon the house which he did not build;
כי רצץ עזב דלים בית גזל ולא יבנהו׃
20 Because he knew no rest in his bosom, He shall not save that in which he delighteth.
כי לא ידע שלו בבטנו בחמודו לא ימלט׃
21 Because nothing escaped his greediness, His prosperity shall not endure.
אין שריד לאכלו על כן לא יחיל טובו׃
22 In the fulness of his abundance he shall be brought low; Every hand of the wretched shall come upon him.
במלאות שפקו יצר לו כל יד עמל תבואנו׃
23 He shall, indeed, have wherewith to fill himself: God shall send upon him the fury of his anger, And rain it down upon him for his food.
יהי למלא בטנו ישלח בו חרון אפו וימטר עלימו בלחומו׃
24 If he fleeth from the iron weapon, The bow of brass shall pierce him through.
יברח מנשק ברזל תחלפהו קשת נחושה׃
25 He draweth the arrow, and it cometh forth from his body; Yea, the glittering steel cometh out of his gall. Terrors are upon him;
שלף ויצא מגוה וברק ממררתו יהלך עליו אמים׃
26 Calamity of every kind is treasured up for him. A fire not blown shall consume him; It shall consume whatever is left in his tent.
כל חשך טמון לצפוניו תאכלהו אש לא נפח ירע שריד באהלו׃
27 The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, And the earth shall rise up against him.
יגלו שמים עונו וארץ מתקוממה לו׃
28 The substance of his house shall disappear; It shall flow away in the day of His wrath.
יגל יבול ביתו נגרות ביום אפו׃
29 Such is the portion of the wicked man from God, And the inheritance appointed for him by the Almighty.
זה חלק אדם רשע מאלהים ונחלת אמרו מאל׃

< Job 20 >