איוב 20

1 ויען צפר הנעמתי ויאמר

Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

2 לכן שעפי ישיבוני ובעבור חושי בי

I did not suppose that thou wouldest answer thus: neither do ye understand more than I.

3 מוסר כלמתי אשמע ורוח מבינתי יענני

I will hear my shameful reproach; and the spirit of my understanding answers me.

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

Hast thou [not] known these things of old, from the time that man was set upon the earth?

5 כי רננת רשעים מקרוב ושמחת חנף עדי-רגע

But the mirth of the ungodly is a signal downfall, and the joy of transgressors is destruction:

6 אם-יעלה לשמים שיאו וראשו לעב יגיע

although his gifts should go up to heaven, and his sacrifice reach the clouds.

7 כגללו לנצח יאבד ראיו יאמרו איו

For when he shall seem to be now established, then he shall utterly perish: and they that knew him shall say, Where is he?

8 כחלום יעוף ולא ימצאהו וידד כחזיון לילה

Like a dream that has fled away, he shall not be found; and he has fled like a vision of the night.

9 עין שזפתו ולא תוסיף ולא-עוד תשורנו מקומו

The eye has looked upon him, but shall not [see him] again; and his place shall no longer perceive him.

10 בניו ירצו דלים וידיו תשבנה אונו

Let [his] inferiors destroy his children, and let his hands kindle the fire of sorrow.

11 עצמותיו מלאו עלומו ועמו על-עפר תשכב

His bones have been filled with [vigour of] his youth, and it shall lie down with him in the dust.

12 אם-תמתיק בפיו רעה-- יכחידנה תחת לשנו

Though evil be sweet in his mouth, [though] he will hide it under his tongue;

13 יחמל עליה ולא יעזבנה וימנענה בתוך חכו

though he will not spare it, and will not leave it, but will keep it in the midst of his throat:

14 לחמו במעיו נהפך מרורת פתנים בקרבו

yet he shall not at all be able to help himself; the gall of an asp is in his belly.

15 חיל בלע ויקאנו מבטנו ירשנו אל

[His] wealth unjustly collected shall be vomited up; a messenger [of wrath] shall drag him out of his house.

16 ראש-פתנים יינק תהרגהו לשון אפעה

And let him suck the poison of serpents, and let the serpent's tongue slay him.

17 אל-ירא בפלגות-- נהרי נחלי דבש וחמאה

Let him not see the milk of the pastures, nor the supplies of honey and butter.

18 משיב יגע ולא יבלע כחיל תמורתו ולא יעלס

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 cannot swallow.

19 כי-רצץ עזב דלים בית גזל ולא יבנהו

For he has broken down the houses of many mighty men: and he has plundered an habitation, though he built [it] not.

20 כי לא-ידע שלו בבטנו בחמודו לא ימלט

There is no security to his possessions; he shall not be saved by his desire.

21 אין-שריד לאכלו על-כן לא-יחיל טובו

There is nothing remaining of his provisions; therefore his goods shall not flourish.

22 במלאות שפקו יצר לו כל-יד עמל תבאנו

But when he shall seem to be just satisfied, he shall be straitened; and all distress shall come upon him.

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

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.

24 יברח מנשק ברזל תחלפהו קשת נחושה

And he shall by no means escape from the power of the sword; let the brazen bow wound him.

25 שלף ויצא מגוה וברק ממררתו יהלך עליו אמים

And let the arrow pierce through his body; and let the stars be against his dwelling-place: let terrors come upon him.

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

And let all darkness wait for him: a fire that burns not out shall consume him; and let a stranger plague his house.

27 יגלו שמים עונו וארץ מתקוממה לו

And let the heaven reveal his iniquities, and the earth rise up against him.

28 יגל יבול ביתו נגרות ביום אפו

Let destruction bring his house to an end; let a day of wrath come upon him.

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

This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of his goods [appointed him] by the all-seeing [God].