Job 20
1 respondens autem Sophar Naamathites dixit
Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
2 idcirco cogitationes meae variae succedunt sibi et mens in diversa rapitur
“So my anxious thoughts compel me to answer, because of the turmoil within me.
3 doctrinam qua me arguis audiam et spiritus intellegentiae meae respondebit mihi
I have heard a rebuke that insults me, and my understanding prompts a reply.
4 hoc scio a principio ex quo positus est homo super terram
Do you not know that from antiquity, since man was placed on the earth,
5 quod laus impiorum brevis sit et gaudium hypocritae ad instar puncti
the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?
6 si ascenderit usque ad caelum superbia eius et caput eius nubes tetigerit
Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds,
7 quasi sterquilinium in fine perdetur et qui eum viderant dicent ubi est
he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’
8 velut somnium avolans non invenietur transiet sicut visio nocturna
He will fly away like a dream, never to be found; he will be chased away like a vision in the night.
9 oculus qui eum viderat non videbit neque ultra intuebitur eum locus suus
The eye that saw him will see him no more, and his place will no longer behold him.
10 filii eius adterentur egestate et manus illius reddent ei dolorem suum
His sons will seek the favor of the poor, for his own hands must return his wealth.
11 ossa eius implebuntur vitiis adulescentiae eius et cum eo in pulverem dormient
The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie down with him in the dust.
12 cum enim dulce fuerit in ore eius malum abscondet illud sub lingua sua
Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue,
13 parcet illi et non derelinquet illud et celabit in gutture suo
though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth,
14 panis eius in utero illius vertetur in fel aspidum intrinsecus
yet in his stomach his food sours into the venom of cobras within him.
15 divitias quas devoravit evomet et de ventre illius extrahet eas Deus
He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.
16 caput aspidum suget occidet eum lingua viperae
He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will kill him.
17 non videat rivulos fluminis torrentes mellis et butyri
He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.
18 luet quae fecit omnia nec tamen consumetur iuxta multitudinem adinventionum suarum sic et sustinebit
He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits of his trading.
19 quoniam confringens nudavit pauperes domum rapuit et non aedificavit eam
For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.
20 nec est satiatus venter eius et cum habuerit quae cupierat possidere non poterit
Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure.
21 non remansit de cibo eius et propterea nihil permanebit de bonis eius
Nothing is left for him to consume; thus his prosperity will not endure.
22 cum satiatus fuerit artabitur aestuabit et omnis dolor inruet in eum
In the midst of his plenty, he will be distressed; the full force of misery will come upon him.
23 utinam impleatur venter eius ut emittat in eum iram furoris sui et pluat super illum bellum suum
When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats.
24 fugiet arma ferrea et inruet in arcum aereum
Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce him.
25 eductus et egrediens de vagina sua et fulgurans in amaritudine sua vadent et venient super eum horribiles
It is drawn out of his back, the gleaming point from his liver. Terrors come over him.
26 omnes tenebrae absconditae sunt in occultis eius devorabit eum ignis qui non succenditur adfligetur relictus in tabernaculo suo
Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.
27 revelabunt caeli iniquitatem eius et terra consurget adversus eum
The heavens will expose his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.
28 apertum erit germen domus illius detrahetur in die furoris Dei
The possessions of his house will be removed, flowing away on the day of God’s wrath.
29 haec est pars hominis impii a Deo et hereditas verborum eius a Domino
This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.”
