GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New King James Version NKJV
1 Then Zophar from Naama replied [to Job],
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Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
2 "My disturbing thoughts make me answer, and because of them I am upset.
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"Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer, Because of the turmoil within me.
3 I have heard criticism that makes me ashamed, but a spirit beyond my understanding gives me answers.
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I have heard the rebuke that reproaches me, And the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer.
4 "Don't you know that from ancient times, from the time humans were placed on earth,
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"Do you not know this of old, Since man was placed on earth,
5 the triumph of the wicked is short-lived, and the joy of the godless person lasts only a moment?
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That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment?
6 If his height reaches to the sky and his head touches the clouds,
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Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens, And his head reaches to the clouds,
7 he will certainly rot like his own feces. Those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'
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Yet he will perish forever like his own refuse; Those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'
8 He will fly away like a dream and not be found. He will be chased away like a vision in the night.
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He will fly away like a dream, and not be found; Yes, he will be chased away like a vision of the night.
9 Eyes that saw him will see him no more. His home will not look at him again.
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The eye that saw him will see him no more, Nor will his place behold him anymore.
10 His children will have to ask the poor for help. His own hands will have to give back his wealth.
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His children will seek the favor of the poor, And his hands will restore his wealth.
11 His bones, once full of youthful vigor, will lie down with him in the dust.
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His bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it will lie down with him in the dust.
12 "Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue. . . .
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"Though evil is sweet in his mouth, And he hides it under his tongue,
13 Though he savors it and won't let go of it and he holds it on the roof of his mouth,
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Though he spares it and does not forsake it, But still keeps it in his mouth,
14 the food in his belly turns sour. It becomes snake venom in his stomach.
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Yet his food in his stomach turns sour; It becomes cobra venom within him.
15 He vomits up the riches that he swallowed. God forces them out of his stomach.
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He swallows down riches And vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly.
16 The godless person sucks the poison of snakes. A viper's fang kills him.
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He will suck the poison of cobras; The viper's tongue will slay him.
17 He won't be able to drink from the streams or from the rivers of honey and buttermilk.
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He will not see the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and cream.
18 He will give back what he earned without enjoying it. He will get no joy from the profits of his business
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He will restore that for which he labored, And will not swallow it down; From the proceeds of business He will get no enjoyment.
19 because he crushed and abandoned the poor. He has taken by force a house that he didn't build.
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For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor, He has violently seized a house which he did not build.
20 He will never know peace in his heart. He will never allow anything he desires to escape [his grasp].
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"Because he knows no quietness in his heart, He will not save anything he desires.
21 "Nothing is left for him to eat. His prosperity won't last.
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Nothing is left for him to eat; Therefore his well-being will not last.
22 [Even] with all his wealth the full force of misery comes down on him.
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In his self-sufficiency he will be in distress; Every hand of misery will come against him.
23 Let that misery fill his belly. [God] throws his burning anger at the godless person and makes his wrath come down on him like rain.
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When he is about to fill his stomach, God will cast on him the fury of His wrath, And will rain it on him while he is eating.
24 If that person flees from an iron weapon, a bronze bow will pierce him.
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He will flee from the iron weapon; A bronze bow will pierce him through.
25 He pulls it out, and it comes out of his back. The glittering point comes out of his gallbladder. "Terrors come quickly to the godless person:
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It is drawn, and comes out of the body; Yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors come upon him;
26 Total darkness waits in hiding for his treasure. A fire that no one fans will burn him. Whatever is left in his tent will be devoured.
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Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. An unfanned fire will consume him; It shall go ill with him who is left in his tent.
27 Heaven exposes his sin. Earth rises up against him.
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The heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him.
28 A flood will sweep away his house, a flash flood on the day of his anger.
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The increase of his house will depart, And his goods will flow away in the day of His wrath.
29 This is the reward God gives to the wicked person, the inheritance God has appointed for him."
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This is the portion from God for a wicked man, The heritage appointed to him by God."