Job 20
1 respondens autem Sophar Naamathites dixit
Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,
2 idcirco cogitationes meae variae succedunt sibi et mens in diversa rapitur
“Therefore my thoughts answer me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.
3 doctrinam qua me arguis audiam et spiritus intellegentiae meae 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
Don’t you know this from old time, since man was placed on earth,
5 quod laus impiorum brevis sit et gaudium hypocritae 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 caelum superbia eius et caput eius 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 will perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
8 velut somnium avolans non invenietur transiet sicut visio nocturna
He will fly away as a dream, and will not be found. Yes, 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 which saw him will see him no more, neither will his place see him any more.
10 filii eius adterentur egestate et manus illius reddent ei dolorem suum
His children will seek the favor of the poor. His hands will give back his wealth.
11 ossa eius implebuntur vitiis adulescentiae eius et cum eo in pulverem dormient
His bones are full of his youth, but youth will lie down with him in the dust.
12 cum enim dulce fuerit in ore eius 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 eius 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 will vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.
16 caput aspidum suget occidet eum lingua viperae
He will suck cobra venom. The viper’s tongue will kill him.
17 non videat rivulos fluminis torrentes mellis et butyri
He will not look at the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.
18 luet quae fecit omnia nec tamen consumetur iuxta multitudinem adinventionum suarum sic et sustinebit
He will restore that for which he labored, and will not swallow it down. He will not rejoice according to the substance that he has gotten.
19 quoniam confringens nudavit pauperes domum rapuit et non aedificavit eam
For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he will not build it up.
20 nec est satiatus venter eius et cum habuerit quae cupierat possidere non poterit
“Because he knew no quietness within him, he will not save anything of that in which he delights.
21 non remansit de cibo eius et propterea nihil permanebit de bonis eius
There was nothing left that he didn’t devour, therefore his prosperity will not endure.
22 cum satiatus fuerit artabitur aestuabit et omnis dolor inruet in eum
In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress will overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery will come on 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 belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.
24 fugiet arma ferrea et inruet in arcum aereum
He will flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow will strike him through.
25 eductus et egrediens de vagina sua et fulgurans in amaritudine sua vadent et venient super eum horribiles
He draws it out, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on him.
26 omnes tenebrae absconditae sunt in occultis eius devorabit eum ignis qui non succenditur adfligetur relictus in tabernaculo suo
All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire will devour him. It will consume that which is left in his tent.
27 revelabunt caeli iniquitatem eius et terra consurget adversus eum
The heavens will reveal his iniquity. The earth will rise up against him.
28 apertum erit germen domus illius detrahetur in die furoris Dei
The increase of his house will depart. They will rush away in the day of his wrath.
29 haec est pars hominis impii a Deo et hereditas verborum eius a Domino
This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the heritage appointed to him by God.”
