Job 20
1 respondens autem Sophar Naamathites dixit
Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,
2 idcirco cogitationes meae variae succedunt sibi et mens in diversa rapitur
“My thoughts make me answer quickly because of the worry that is in me.
3 doctrinam qua me arguis audiam et spiritus intellegentiae meae respondebit mihi
I hear a rebuke that dishonors me, but a spirit from my understanding answers me.
4 hoc scio a principio ex quo positus est homo super terram
Do you not know this fact from ancient times, when God placed man on earth:
5 quod laus impiorum brevis sit et gaudium hypocritae ad instar puncti
the triumph of a wicked man is short, and the joy of a godless man lasts only for a moment?
6 si ascenderit usque ad caelum superbia eius et caput eius nubes tetigerit
Though his height reaches up to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds,
7 quasi sterquilinium in fine perdetur et qui eum viderant dicent ubi est
yet such a person will perish permanently like his own feces; those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'
8 velut somnium avolans non invenietur transiet sicut visio nocturna
He will fly away like a dream and will not be found; indeed, he will be chased away like a vision of 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; his place will see him no longer.
10 filii eius adterentur egestate et manus illius reddent ei dolorem suum
His children will apologize to poor people; his hands will have to give back his wealth.
11 ossa eius implebuntur vitiis adulescentiae eius et cum eo in pulverem dormient
His bones are full of youthful strength, but it will lie down with him in the dust.
12 cum enim dulce fuerit in ore eius malum abscondet illud sub lingua sua
Although wickedness is sweet in his mouth, although he hides it under his tongue,
13 parcet illi et non derelinquet illud et celabit in gutture suo
although he holds it there and does not let it go but keeps it still in his mouth—
14 panis eius in utero illius vertetur in fel aspidum intrinsecus
the food in his intestines turns bitter; it becomes the poison of asps inside him.
15 divitias quas devoravit evomet et de ventre illius extrahet eas Deus
He swallows down riches, but he will vomit them up again; God will cast them out of his stomach.
16 caput aspidum suget occidet eum lingua viperae
He will suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue will kill him.
17 non videat rivulos fluminis torrentes mellis et butyri
He will not enjoy the streams, the torrents of honey and butter.
18 luet quae fecit omnia nec tamen consumetur iuxta multitudinem adinventionum suarum sic et sustinebit
He will give back the fruit of his labor and will not be able to eat it; he will not enjoy the wealth earned by his commerce.
19 quoniam confringens nudavit pauperes domum rapuit et non aedificavit eam
For he has oppressed and neglected poor people; he has violently taken away houses that he did not build.
20 nec est satiatus venter eius et cum habuerit quae cupierat possidere non poterit
Because he has known no satisfaction himself, he will not be able to save anything in which he takes pleasure.
21 non remansit de cibo eius et propterea nihil permanebit de bonis eius
There is nothing left that he did not devour; therefore his prosperity will not be permanent.
22 cum satiatus fuerit artabitur aestuabit et omnis dolor inruet in eum
In the abundance of his wealth he will fall into trouble; the hand of everyone who is in poverty will come against him.
23 utinam impleatur venter eius ut emittat in eum iram furoris sui et pluat super illum bellum suum
When he is about to fill his stomach, God will throw the fierceness of his wrath on him; God will rain it down on him while he is eating.
24 fugiet arma ferrea et inruet in arcum aereum
Although that man will flee from the iron weapon, a bow of bronze will shoot him.
25 eductus et egrediens de vagina sua et fulgurans in amaritudine sua vadent et venient super eum horribiles
He pulls it out of his back and the gleaming point comes out of 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
Complete darkness is reserved for his treasures; a fire not fanned will devour him; it will consume what is left in his tent.
27 revelabunt caeli iniquitatem eius et terra consurget adversus eum
The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him as a witness.
28 apertum erit germen domus illius detrahetur in die furoris Dei
The wealth of his house will vanish; his goods will flow 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 heritage reserved for him by God.”
