New International Version NIV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
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Then Zophar the Na'amathite answered:
2 “My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer because I am greatly disturbed.
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"Therefore my thoughts answer me, because of my haste within me.
3 I hear a rebuke that dishonors me, and my understanding inspires me to reply.
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I hear censure which insults me, and out of my understanding a spirit 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, since man was placed upon 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 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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Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach 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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he will perish for ever like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'
8 Like a dream he flies away, no more to be found, banished like a vision of the night.
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He will fly away like a dream, and not be found; he 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 which saw him will see him no more, nor will his place any more behold him.
10 His children must make amends to the poor; his own hands must give back his wealth.
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His children will seek the favor of the poor, and his hands will give back his wealth.
11 The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie with him in the dust.
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His bones are full of 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 wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue,
13 though he cannot bear to let it go and lets it linger in his mouth,
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though he is loath to let it go, and holds it in his mouth,
14 yet his food will turn sour in his stomach; it will become the venom of serpents within him.
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yet his food is turned in his stomach; it is the gall of asps within him.
15 He will spit out the riches he swallowed; God will make his stomach vomit them up.
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He swallows down riches and vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly.
16 He will suck the poison of serpents; the fangs of an adder will kill him.
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He will suck the poison of asps; the tongue of a viper will kill him.
17 He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.
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He will not look upon 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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He will give back the fruit of his toil, and will not swallow it down; from the profit of his trading he 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 he has crushed and abandoned the poor, he has seized a house which he did not build.
20 “Surely he will have no respite from his craving; he cannot save himself by his treasure.
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"Because his greed knew no rest, he will not save anything in which he delights.
21 Nothing is left for him to devour; his prosperity will not endure.
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There was nothing left after he had eaten; therefore his 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 the fulness of his sufficiency he will be in straits; all the force of misery will come upon him.
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 his belly to the full God will send his fierce anger into him, and rain it upon him as his food.
24 Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.
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He will flee from an iron weapon; a bronze arrow will strike him 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 his body, the glittering point comes out of his gall; terrors come upon him.
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 his treasures; a fire not blown upon will devour him; what is left in his 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 his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.
28 A flood will carry off his house, rushing waters on the day of God’s wrath.
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The possessions of his 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 wicked man's portion from God, the heritage decreed for him 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.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.