New International Version NIV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
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Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:
2 “My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer because I am greatly disturbed.
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"Pay attention! My thoughts urge me to answer, because of the agitation within me.
3 I hear a rebuke that dishonors me, and my understanding inspires me to reply.
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I hear censure that insults me, and a spirit beyond my understanding answers me.
4 “Surely you know how it has been from of old, ever since mankind was placed on the earth,
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Do you not know this from of old, ever since mortals were placed on earth,
5 that the mirth of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment.
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that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless is but for a moment?
6 Though the pride of the godless person reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds,
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Even though they mount up high as the heavens, and their head reaches to the clouds,
7 he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
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they will perish forever like their own dung; those who have seen them will say, "Where are they?'
8 Like a dream he flies away, no more to be found, banished like a vision of the night.
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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 him will not see him again; his place will look on him no more.
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The eye that saw them will see them no more, nor will their place behold them any longer.
10 His children must make amends to the poor; his own hands must give back his wealth.
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Their children will seek the favor of the poor, and their hands will give back their wealth.
11 The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie with him in the dust.
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Their bodies, once full of youth, will lie down in the dust with them.
12 “Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue,
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"Though wickedness is sweet in their mouth, though they hide it under their tongues,
13 though he cannot bear to let it go and lets it linger in his mouth,
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though they are loath to let it go, and hold it in their mouths,
14 yet his food will turn sour in his stomach; it will become the venom of serpents within him.
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yet their food is turned in their stomachs; it is the venom of asps within them.
15 He will spit out the riches he swallowed; God will make his stomach vomit them up.
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They swallow down riches and vomit them up again; God casts them out of their bellies.
16 He will suck the poison of serpents; the fangs of an adder will kill him.
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They will suck the poison of asps; the tongue of a viper will kill them.
17 He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.
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They will not look on the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds.
18 What he toiled for he must give back uneaten; he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.
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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 For he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute; he has seized houses he did not build.
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For they have crushed and abandoned the poor, they have seized a house that they did not build.
20 “Surely he will have no respite from his craving; he cannot save himself by his treasure.
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"They knew no quiet in their bellies; in their greed they let nothing escape.
21 Nothing is left for him to devour; his prosperity will not endure.
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There was nothing left after they had eaten; therefore their prosperity will not endure.
22 In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him; the full force of misery will come upon him.
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In full sufficiency they will be in distress; all the force of misery will come upon them.
23 When he has filled his belly, God will vent his burning anger against him and rain down his blows on him.
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To fill their belly to the full God will send his fierce anger into them, and rain it upon them as their food.
24 Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.
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They will flee from an iron weapon; a bronze arrow will strike them through.
25 He pulls it out of his back, the gleaming point out of his liver. Terrors will come over him;
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It is drawn forth and comes out of their body, and the glittering point comes out of their gall; terrors come upon them.
26 total darkness lies in wait for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.
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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 The heavens will expose his guilt; the earth will rise up against him.
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The heavens will reveal their iniquity, and the earth will rise up against them.
28 A flood will carry off his house, rushing waters on the day of God’s wrath.
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The possessions of their house will be carried away, dragged off in the day of God's wrath.
29 Such is the fate God allots the wicked, the heritage appointed for them by God.”
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This is the portion of the wicked from God, the heritage decreed for them by God."
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
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.