Third Millennium Bible TMB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite and said:
1 Then Zophar from Naama replied [to Job],
2 "Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.
2 "My disturbing thoughts make me answer, and because of them I am upset.
3 I have heard the rebuke of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.
3 I have heard criticism that makes me ashamed, but a spirit beyond my understanding gives me answers.
4 Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,
4 "Don't you know that from ancient times, from the time humans were placed on earth,
5 that the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?
5 the triumph of the wicked is short-lived, and the joy of the godless person lasts only a moment?
6 Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds,
6 If his height reaches to the sky and his head touches the clouds,
7 yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung; they that have seen him shall say, `Where is he?'
7 he will certainly rot like his own feces. Those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'
8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found; yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.
8 He will fly away like a dream and not be found. He will be chased away like a vision in the night.
9 The eye also which saw him shall see him no more, neither shall his place any more behold him.
9 Eyes that saw him will see him no more. His home will not look at him again.
10 His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.
10 His children will have to ask the poor for help. His own hands will have to give back his wealth.
11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.
11 His bones, once full of youthful vigor, will lie down with him in the dust.
12 "Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,
12 "Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue. . . .
13 though he spare it and forsake it not, but keep it still within his mouth,
13 Though he savors it and won't let go of it and he holds it on the roof of his mouth,
14 yet his meat in his stomach is turned; it is the gall of asps within him.
14 the food in his belly turns sour. It becomes snake venom in his stomach.
15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again; God shall cast them out of his belly.
15 He vomits up the riches that he swallowed. God forces them out of his stomach.
16 He shall suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue shall slay him.
16 The godless person sucks the poison of snakes. A viper's fang kills him.
17 He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.
17 He won't be able to drink from the streams or from the rivers of honey and buttermilk.
18 That which he labored for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down; according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.
18 He will give back what he earned without enjoying it. He will get no joy from the profits of his business
19 Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor, because he hath violently taken away a house which he built not,
19 because he crushed and abandoned the poor. He has taken by force a house that he didn't build.
20 surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly; he shall not save of that which he desired.
20 He will never know peace in his heart. He will never allow anything he desires to escape [his grasp].
21 There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.
21 "Nothing is left for him to eat. His prosperity won't last.
22 In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits; every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.
22 [Even] with all his wealth the full force of misery comes down on him.
23 When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of His wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.
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.
24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.
24 If that person flees from an iron weapon, a bronze bow will pierce him.
25 It is drawn and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall; terrors are upon him.
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:
26 All darkness shall be hid in his secret places; a fire not blown upon shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.
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.
27 The heaven shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.
27 Heaven exposes his sin. Earth rises up against him.
28 The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of His wrath.
28 A flood will sweep away his house, a flash flood on the day of his anger.
29 "This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God."
29 This is the reward God gives to the wicked person, the inheritance God has appointed for him."
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.