1 And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,
2 Therefore do my thoughts give me an answer, and for this is my haste within me.
3 I hear a reproof putting me to shame; and {my} spirit answereth me by mine understanding.
4 Knowest thou {not} this, that of old, since man was placed upon earth,
5 The exultation of the wicked is short, and the joy of the ungodly man but for a moment?
6 Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds,
7 Like his own dung doth he perish for ever; they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?
8 He flieth away as a dream, and is not found; and is chased away as a vision of the night.
9 The eye which saw him shall {see him} not again; and his place beholdeth him no more.
10 His children shall seek the favour of the poor, and his hands restore his wealth.
11 His bones were full of his youthful strength; but it shall lie down with him in the dust.
12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth {and} he hide it under his tongue,
13 {Though} he spare it, and forsake it not, but keep it within his mouth,
14 His food is turned in his bowels; it is the gall of asps within him.
15 He hath swallowed down riches, but he shall vomit them up again: *God shall cast them out of his belly.
16 He shall suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue shall kill him.
17 He shall not see streams, rivers, brooks of honey and butter.
18 That which he laboured for shall he restore, and not swallow down; its restitution shall be according to the value, and he shall not rejoice {therein}.
19 For he hath oppressed, hath forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away a house that he did not build.
20 Because he knew no rest in his craving, he shall save nought of what he most desired.
21 Nothing escaped his greediness; therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits; every hand of the wretched shall come upon him.
23 It shall be that, to fill his belly, he will cast his fierce anger upon him, and will rain it upon him into his flesh.
24 If he have fled from the iron weapon, the bow of brass shall strike him through.
25 He draweth it forth; it cometh out of his body, and the glittering point out of his gall: terrors are upon him.
26 All darkness is laid up for his treasures: a fire not blown shall devour him; it shall feed upon what is left in his tent.
27 The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.
28 The increase of his house shall depart, flowing away in the day of his anger.
29 This is the portion of the wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed to him by *God.
1 Y RESPONDIO Sophar Naamathita, y dijo:
2 Por cierto mis pensamientos me hacen responder, Y por tanto me apresuro.
3 La reprensión de mi censura he oído, Y háceme responder el espíritu de mi inteligencia.
4 ¿No sabes esto que fué siempre, Desde el tiempo que fué puesto el hombre sobre la tierra,
5 Que la alegría de los impíos es breve, Y el gozo del hipócrita por un momento?
6 Si subiere su altivez hasta el cielo, Y su cabeza tocare en las nubes,
7 Con su estiércol perecerá para siempre: Los que le hubieren visto, dirán: ¿Qué es de él?
8 Como sueño volará, y no será hallado: Y disiparáse como visión nocturna.
9 El ojo que le habrá visto, nunca más le verá; Ni su lugar le echará más de ver.
10 Sus hijos pobres andarán rogando; Y sus manos tornarán lo que él robó.
11 Sus huesos están llenos de sus mocedades, Y con él serán sepultados en el polvo.
12 Si el mal se endulzó en su boca, Si lo ocultaba debajo de su lengua;
13 Si le parecía bien, y no lo dejaba, Mas antes lo detenía entre su paladar;
14 Su comida se mudará en sus entrañas, Hiel de áspides será dentro de él.
15 Devoró riquezas, mas vomitarálas; De su vientre las sacará Dios.
16 Veneno de áspides chupará; Matarálo lengua de víbora.
17 No verá los arroyos, los ríos, Los torrentes de miel y de manteca.
18 Restituirá el trabajo conforme á la hacienda que tomó; Y no tragará, ni gozará.
19 Por cuanto quebrantó y desamparó á los pobres, Robó casas, y no las edificó;
20 Por tanto, no sentirá él sosiego en su vientre, Ni salvará nada de lo que codiciaba.
21 No quedó nada que no comiese: Por tanto su bien no será durable.
22 Cuando fuere lleno su bastimento, tendrá angustia: Las manos todas de los malvados vendrán sobre él.
23 Cuando se pusiere á henchir su vientre, Dios enviará sobre él el furor de su ira, Y harála llover sobre él y sobre su comida.
24 Huirá de las armas de hierro, Y el arco de acero le atravesará.
25 Desenvainará y sacará saeta de su aljaba, Y relumbrante pasará por su hiel: Sobre él vendrán terrores.
26 Todas tinieblas están guardadas para sus secretos: Fuego no soplado lo devorará; Su sucesor será quebrantado en su tienda.
27 Los cielos descubrirán su iniquidad, Y la tierra se levantará contra él.
28 Los renuevos de su casa serán trasportados; Serán derramados en el día de su furor.
29 Esta es la parte que Dios apareja al hombre impío, Y la heredad que Dios le señala por su palabra.