| Common English Bible (CEB) |
New International Version (NIV) |
|
1 Zophar from Naamah said:
|
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
|
|
2 Therefore, my troubled thoughts make me turn back— because of my inner turmoil.
|
2 "My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer because I am greatly disturbed.
|
|
3 I hear teaching that insults me, but I am forced to answer based on my own understanding.
|
3 I hear a rebuke that dishonors me, and my understanding inspires me to reply.
|
|
4 Do you know this from long ago— from when humans were placed on earth—
|
4 "Surely you know how it has been from of old, ever since man was placed on the earth,
|
|
5 that the rejoicing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless, brief?
|
5 that the mirth of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment.
|
|
6 Though their height reaches heaven and their heads touch the clouds,
|
6 Though his pride reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds,
|
|
7 they will perish forever like their dung; those who saw them will say, "Where are they?"
|
7 he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'
|
|
8 They will disappear like a dream, and none will find them, carried away like a nighttime vision.
|
8 Like a dream he flies away, no more to be found, banished like a vision of the night.
|
|
9 The eye that saw them will do so no more; they won't be seen again at home.
|
9 The eye that saw him will not see him again; his place will look on him no more.
|
|
10 Their children will repay the poor; their hands will give back their wealth.
|
10 His children must make amends to the poor; his own hands must give back his wealth.
|
|
11 Vigor filled their bones and now sleeps with them in the dust.
|
11 The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie with him in the dust.
|
|
12 Though wickedness is sweet in their mouths, they hide it under their tongues;
|
12 "Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue,
|
|
13 they like it, won't let it go; they hold it in their cheeks.
|
13 though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth,
|
|
14 Food turns their stomachs, becoming a cobra's poison inside.
|
14 yet his food will turn sour in his stomach; it will become the venom of serpents within him.
|
|
15 They swallow wealth and vomit it; God dislodges it from their belly.
|
15 He will spit out the riches he swallowed; God will make his stomach vomit them up.
|
|
16 They suck cobra's poison; a viper's tongue kills them.
|
16 He will suck the poison of serpents; the fangs of an adder will kill him.
|
|
17 They won't experience streams, rivers of honey, and brooks of cream.
|
17 He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.
|
|
18 They won't receive the reward for their labor; they won't enjoy the wealth from their business.
|
18 What he toiled for he must give back uneaten; he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.
|
|
19 They crushed and abandoned the poor; stole a house they didn't build;
|
19 For he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute; he has seized houses he did not build.
|
|
20 didn't know contentment in their belly; couldn't escape with their treasure.
|
20 "Surely he will have no respite from his craving; he cannot save himself by his treasure.
|
|
21 Nothing remained of their food, so their riches will not endure.
|
21 Nothing is left for him to devour; his prosperity will not endure.
|
|
22 Even in their plenty, they are hard-pressed; all sorts of trouble come on them.
|
22 In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him; the full force of misery will come upon him.
|
|
23 Let God fill their belly, unleash his burning anger on them, rain punishing blows on them.
|
23 When he has filled his belly, God will vent his burning anger against him and rain down his blows upon him.
|
|
24 If they flee an iron weapon, a bronze bow pierces them.
|
24 Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.
|
|
25 They pull it out, but it sticks out from their backs; its shaft in their liver brings terror.
|
25 He pulls it out of his back, the gleaming point out of his liver. Terrors will come over him;
|
|
26 Complete darkness waits for their treasured possessions; fire that no one stoked consumes them; what's left in their tent is ruined.
|
26 total darkness lies in wait for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.
|
|
27 Heaven exposes their guilt; earth opposes them.
|
27 The heavens will expose his guilt; the earth will rise up against him.
|
|
28 Their household wealth will be carried off by rushing streams on the day of his anger.
|
28 A flood will carry off his house, rushing waters on the day of God's wrath.
|
|
29 This is a wicked person's lot from God, their heritage decreed by God.
|
29 Such is the fate God allots the wicked, the heritage appointed for them by God."
|
| Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible (Common English Bible) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
