Job 20
1 Respondens autem Sophar Naamathites, dixit:
Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:
2 [Idcirco cogitationes meæ variæ succedunt sibi, et mens in diversa rapitur.
For this do my thoughts lead me to reply, And for this is my ardor within me.
3 Doctrinam qua me arguis audiam, et spiritus intelligentiæ meæ respondebit mihi.
I have heard my shameful rebuke; And the spirit, from my understanding, answereth for me.
4 Hoc scio a principio, ex quo positus est homo super terram,
Knowest thou not, that from the days of old, From the time when man was placed upon the earth,
5 quod laus impiorum brevis sit, et gaudium hypocritæ ad instar puncti.
The triumphing of the wicked hath been short, And the joy of the impious but for a moment?
6 Si ascenderit usque ad cælum superbia ejus, et caput ejus nubes tetigerit,
Though his greatness 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 shall he perish for ever, and be mingled with dust; They who saw him shall say, Where is he?
8 Velut somnium avolans non invenietur: transiet sicut visio nocturna.
He shall flee away like a dream, and shall not be found; Yea, he shall disappear like a vision of the nigh.
9 Oculus qui eum viderat non videbit, neque ultra intuebitur eum locus suus.
The eye also which saw him shall see him no more, And his dwelling-place shall never more behold him.
10 Filii ejus atterentur egestate, et manus illius reddent ei dolorem suum.
His sons shall seek the favor of the poor, And their 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 they shall lie down with him in the dust.
12 Cum enim dulce fuerit in ore ejus malum, abscondet illud sub lingua sua.
Though wickedness be 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 cherish it, and will not part with it, And keep it fast in his mouth,
14 Panis ejus in utero illius vertetur in fel aspidum intrinsecus.
Yet his meat shall be changed within him, And become to him the poison of asps.
15 Divitias quas devoravit evomet, et de ventre illius extrahet eas Deus.
He hath glutted himself with riches, And he shall throw them up again; Yea, God shall cast them out of his body.
16 Caput aspidum suget, et occidet eum lingua viperæ.
He shall suck the poison of asps; The tongue of the viper shall destroy him.
17 (Non videat rivulos fluminis, torrentes mellis et butyri.)
He shall never see the flowing streams, And the rivers of honey and milk.
18 Luet quæ fecit omnia, nec tamen consumetur: juxta multitudinem adinventionum suarum, sic et sustinebit.
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.
19 Quoniam confringens nudavit pauperes: domum rapuit, et non ædificavit eam.
Because he hath oppressed and abandoned the poor, And seized upon the house which he did not build;
20 Nec est satiatus venter ejus: et cum habuerit quæ concupierat, possidere non poterit.
Because he knew no rest in his bosom, He shall not save that in which he delighteth.
21 Non remansit de cibo ejus, et propterea nihil permanebit de bonis ejus.
Because nothing escaped his greediness, His prosperity shall not endure.
22 Cum satiatus fuerit, arctabitur: æstuabit, et omnis dolor irruet super eum.
In the fulness of his abundance he shall be brought low; Every hand of the wretched shall come upon him.
23 Utinam impleatur venter ejus, ut emittat in eum iram furoris sui, et pluat super illum bellum suum.
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.
24 Fugiet arma ferrea, et irruet in arcum æreum.
If he fleeth from the iron weapon, The bow of brass shall pierce him through.
25 Eductus, et egrediens de vagina sua, et fulgurans in amaritudine sua: vadent et venient super eum horribiles.
He draweth the arrow, and it cometh forth from his body; Yea, the glittering steel cometh out of his gall. Terrors are upon him;
26 Omnes tenebræ absconditæ sunt in occultis ejus; devorabit eum ignis qui non succenditur: affligetur relictus in tabernaculo suo.
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.
27 Revelabunt cæli iniquitatem ejus, et terra consurget adversus eum.
The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, And the earth shall rise up against him.
28 Apertum erit germen domus illius: detrahetur in die furoris Dei.
The substance of his house shall disappear; It shall flow away in the day of His wrath.
29 Hæc est pars hominis impii a Deo, et hæreditas verborum ejus a Domino.]
Such is the portion of the wicked man from God, And the inheritance appointed for him by the Almighty.
