איוב 20

1 ויען צפר הנעמתי ויאמר

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, and said,

2 לכן שעפי ישיבוני ובעבור חושי בי

Therefore my thoughts cause me to answer, even because of my haste that is in me.

3 מוסר כלמתי אשמע ורוח מבינתי יענני

I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame, and the spirit of my understanding answers me.

4 הזאת ידעת מני-עד מני שים אדם עלי-ארץ

Know thou this of old time, since man was placed upon earth,

5 כי רננת רשעים מקרוב ושמחת חנף עדי-רגע

that the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the profane but for a moment?

6 אם-יעלה לשמים שיאו וראשו לעב יגיע

Though his height mounts up to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds,

7 כגללו לנצח יאבד ראיו יאמרו איו

yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him shall say, Where is he?

8 כחלום יעוף ולא ימצאהו וידד כחזיון לילה

He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found. Yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

9 עין שזפתו ולא תוסיף ולא-עוד תשורנו מקומו

The eye which saw him shall see him no more, neither shall his place any more behold him.

10 בניו ירצו דלים וידיו תשבנה אונו

His sons shall seek the favor of the poor, and his hands shall give back his wealth.

11 עצמותיו מלאו עלומו ועמו על-עפר תשכב

His bones are full of his youth, but it shall lie down with him in the dust.

12 אם-תמתיק בפיו רעה-- יכחידנה תחת לשנו

Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,

13 יחמל עליה ולא יעזבנה וימנענה בתוך חכו

though he spares it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth,

14 לחמו במעיו נהפך מרורת פתנים בקרבו

yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is the gall of asps within him.

15 חיל בלע ויקאנו מבטנו ירשנו אל

He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.

16 ראש-פתנים יינק תהרגהו לשון אפעה

He shall suck the poison of asps. The viper's tongue shall kill him.

17 אל-ירא בפלגות-- נהרי נחלי דבש וחמאה

He shall not look upon the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.

18 משיב יגע ולא יבלע כחיל תמורתו ולא יעלס

That which he labored for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.

19 כי-רצץ עזב דלים בית גזל ולא יבנהו

For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.

20 כי לא-ידע שלו בבטנו בחמודו לא ימלט

Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save any of that in which he delights.

21 אין-שריד לאכלו על-כן לא-יחיל טובו

There was nothing left that he did not devour, therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

22 במלאות שפקו יצר לו כל-יד עמל תבאנו

In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits. The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come upon him.

23 יהי למלא בטנו--ישלח-בו חרון אפו וימטר עלימו בלחומו

When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, and will rain it upon him while he is eating.

24 יברח מנשק ברזל תחלפהו קשת נחושה

He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of brass shall strike him through.

25 שלף ויצא מגוה וברק ממררתו יהלך עליו אמים

He draws it forth, and it comes out of his body, yea, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors are upon him.

26 כל-חשך טמון לצפוניו תאכלהו אש לא-נפח ירע שריד באהלו

All darkness is laid up for his treasures. A fire not blown shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent.

27 יגלו שמים עונו וארץ מתקוממה לו

The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.

28 יגל יבול ביתו נגרות ביום אפו

The increase of his house shall depart, flowed away in the day of his wrath.

29 זה חלק-אדם רשע--מאלהים ונחלת אמרו מאל

This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God.