Common English Bible CEB
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Zophar from Naamah said:
1
Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:
2 Therefore, my troubled thoughts make me turn back— because of my inner turmoil.
2
"Pay attention! My thoughts urge me to answer, because of the agitation within me.
3 I hear teaching that insults me, but I am forced to answer based on my own understanding.
3
I hear censure that insults me, and a spirit beyond my understanding answers me.
4 Do you know this from long ago— from when humans were placed on earth—
4
Do you not know this from of old, ever since mortals were placed on earth,
5 that the rejoicing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless, brief?
5
that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless is but for a moment?
6 Though their height reaches heaven and their heads touch the clouds,
6
Even though they mount up high as the heavens, and their head reaches to the clouds,
7 they will perish forever like their dung; those who saw them will say, "Where are they?"
7
they will perish forever like their own dung; those who have seen them will say, "Where are they?'
8 They will disappear like a dream, and none will find them, carried away like a nighttime vision.
8
They will fly away like a dream, and not be found; they will be chased away 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 them will see them no more, nor will their place behold them any longer.
10 Their children will repay the poor; their hands will give back their wealth.
10
Their children will seek the favor of the poor, and their hands will give back their wealth.
11 Vigor filled their bones and now sleeps with them in the dust.
11
Their bodies, once full of youth, will lie down in the dust with them.
12 Though wickedness is sweet in their mouths, they hide it under their tongues;
12
"Though wickedness is sweet in their mouth, though they hide it under their tongues,
13 they like it, won't let it go; they hold it in their cheeks.
13
though they are loath to let it go, and hold it in their mouths,
14 Food turns their stomachs, becoming a cobra's poison inside.
14
yet their food is turned in their stomachs; it is the venom of asps within them.
15 They swallow wealth and vomit it; God dislodges it from their belly.
15
They swallow down riches and vomit them up again; God casts them out of their bellies.
16 They suck cobra's poison; a viper's tongue kills them.
16
They will suck the poison of asps; the tongue of a viper will kill them.
17 They won't experience streams, rivers of honey, and brooks of cream.
17
They will not look on the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds.
18 They won't receive the reward for their labor; they won't enjoy the wealth from their business.
18
They will give back the fruit of their toil, and will not swallow it down; from the profit of their trading they will get no enjoyment.
19 They crushed and abandoned the poor; stole a house they didn't build;
19
For they have crushed and abandoned the poor, they have seized a house that they did not build.
20 didn't know contentment in their belly; couldn't escape with their treasure.
20
"They knew no quiet in their bellies; in their greed they let nothing escape.
21 Nothing remained of their food, so their riches will not endure.
21
There was nothing left after they had eaten; therefore their prosperity will not endure.
22 Even in their plenty, they are hard-pressed; all sorts of trouble come on them.
22
In full sufficiency they will be in distress; all the force of misery will come upon them.
23 Let God fill their belly, unleash his burning anger on them, rain punishing blows on them.
23
To fill their belly to the full God will send his fierce anger into them, and rain it upon them as their food.
24 If they flee an iron weapon, a bronze bow pierces them.
24
They will flee from an iron weapon; a bronze arrow will strike them through.
25 They pull it out, but it sticks out from their backs; its shaft in their liver brings terror.
25
It is drawn forth and comes out of their body, and the glittering point comes out of their gall; terrors come upon them.
26 Complete darkness waits for their treasured possessions; fire that no one stoked consumes them; what's left in their tent is ruined.
26
Utter darkness is laid up for their treasures; a fire fanned by no one will devour them; what is left in their tent will be consumed.
27 Heaven exposes their guilt; earth opposes them.
27
The heavens will reveal their iniquity, and the earth will rise up against them.
28 Their household wealth will be carried off by rushing streams on the day of his anger.
28
The possessions of their house will be carried away, dragged off in the day of God's wrath.
29 This is a wicked person's lot from God, their heritage decreed by God.
29
This is the portion of the wicked from God, the heritage decreed for them by God."
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.