Job 20
1 Respondens autem Sophar Naamathites, dixit:
Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,
2 [Idcirco cogitationes meæ variæ succedunt sibi, et mens in diversa rapitur.
"Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.
3 Doctrinam qua me arguis audiam, et spiritus intelligentiæ meæ respondebit mihi.
I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame. The spirit of my understanding answers me.
4 Hoc scio a principio, ex quo positus est homo super terram,
Do you not know this from old time, since humankind was placed on earth,
5 quod laus impiorum brevis sit, et gaudium hypocritæ ad instar puncti.
that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?
6 Si ascenderit usque ad cælum superbia ejus, et caput ejus nubes tetigerit,
Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,
7 quasi sterquilinium in fine perdetur, et qui eum viderant, dicent: Ubi est?
yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him shall say, 'Where is he?'
8 Velut somnium avolans non invenietur: transiet sicut visio nocturna.
He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found. Yes, he shall be chased away like a vision of the night.
9 Oculus qui eum viderat non videbit, neque ultra intuebitur eum locus suus.
The eye which saw him shall see him no more, neither shall his place any more see him.
10 Filii ejus atterentur egestate, et manus illius reddent ei dolorem suum.
His children shall seek the favor of the poor. His hands shall give back his wealth.
11 Ossa ejus implebuntur vitiis adolescentiæ ejus, et cum eo in pulvere dormient.
His bones are full of his youth, but youth shall lie down with him in the dust.
12 Cum enim dulce fuerit in ore ejus malum, abscondet illud sub lingua sua.
"Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,
13 Parcet illi, et non derelinquet illud, et celabit in gutture suo.
though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;
14 Panis ejus in utero illius vertetur in fel aspidum intrinsecus.
yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him.
15 Divitias quas devoravit evomet, et de ventre illius extrahet eas Deus.
He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.
16 Caput aspidum suget, et occidet eum lingua viperæ.
He shall suck cobra venom. The viper's tongue shall kill him.
17 (Non videat rivulos fluminis, torrentes mellis et butyri.)
He shall not look at the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.
18 Luet quæ fecit omnia, nec tamen consumetur: juxta multitudinem adinventionum suarum, sic et sustinebit.
That for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.
19 Quoniam confringens nudavit pauperes: domum rapuit, et non ædificavit eam.
For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.
20 Nec est satiatus venter ejus: et cum habuerit quæ concupierat, possidere non poterit.
"Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save anything of that in which he delights.
21 Non remansit de cibo ejus, et propterea nihil permanebit de bonis ejus.
There was nothing left that he did not devour, therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
22 Cum satiatus fuerit, arctabitur: æstuabit, et omnis dolor irruet super eum.
In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress shall overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come on him.
23 Utinam impleatur venter ejus, ut emittat in eum iram furoris sui, et pluat super illum bellum suum.
When he is about to fill his belly, he will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.
24 Fugiet arma ferrea, et irruet in arcum æreum.
He shall flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow shall strike him through.
25 Eductus, et egrediens de vagina sua, et fulgurans in amaritudine sua: vadent et venient super eum horribiles.
He draws it forth, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on him.
26 Omnes tenebræ absconditæ sunt in occultis ejus; devorabit eum ignis qui non succenditur: affligetur relictus in tabernaculo suo.
All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent.
27 Revelabunt cæli iniquitatem ejus, et terra consurget adversus eum.
The heavens shall reveal his iniquity. The earth shall rise up against him.
28 Apertum erit germen domus illius: detrahetur in die furoris Dei.
The increase of his house shall depart. They shall rush away in the day of his wrath.
29 Hæc est pars hominis impii a Deo, et hæreditas verborum ejus a Domino.]
This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the heritage appointed to him by God."
