1Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, 2Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.20.2 I make…: Heb. my haste is in me 3I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer. 4Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth, 5That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?20.5 short: Heb. from near 6Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;20.6 clouds: Heb. cloud 7Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he? 8He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. 9The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.
10His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.20.10 His children…: or, The poor shall oppress his children 11His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust. 12Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue; 13Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:20.13 within…: Heb. in the midst of his palate 14Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him. 15He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly. 16He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him. 17He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.20.17 the floods…: or, streaming brooks 18That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.20.18 his…: Heb. the substance of his exchange 19Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;20.19 oppressed: Heb. crushed 20Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.20.20 feel: Heb. know 21There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.20.21 none…: or, be none left for his meat 22In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.20.22 wicked: or, troublesome
23When 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. 24He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through. 25It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him. 26All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle. 27The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him. 28The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath. 29This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.20.29 appointed…: Heb. of his decree from God
Zofars anden tale til Job
1Derefter tog Zofar til genmæle:
2„Jeg bliver nødt til at sætte dig på plads,
for det, du siger, er oprørende.
3Det er nemt nok at anklage os,
men jeg ved, hvordan jeg skal svare dig.
4Ved du ikke, at fra tidernes morgen,
så længe der har været mennesker til,
5har de gudløses triumf været kort,
og deres glæde kun varet et øjeblik?
6Selv om deres selvglæde når til himlen,
og de går med næsen i sky,
7bliver de kastet bort som affald,
og deres venner spørger, hvor de blev af.
8De forsvinder som en drøm, når man vågner,
fordufter, som var det hele et synsbedrag.
9Deres venner ser dem ikke mere,
aldrig vender de tilbage til deres hjemby.
10Børnene må levere tilbage, hvad deres fædre har stjålet,
for de svage skal have det igen, som blev taget fra dem.
11De gudløse dør og bliver lagt i graven,
selv om de stadig var unge og stærke.
12De elsker smagen af synd,
nyder den i fulde drag,
13lader den smelte langsomt på tungen,
synker den med stort velbehag.
14Men i maven giver den voldsomme smerter,
som var det slangegift, de havde slugt.
15Gud sørger for, at de kaster den op,
den velstand de guffede i sig, kommer op igen.
16Men giften har gjort sin virkning,
de går til som bidt af en slange.
17De kan ikke længere skumme fløden
eller nyde en overflod af honning.
18De må aflevere deres uretmæssige bytte,
får ikke glæde af det, de har ranet.
19For de knuste ubarmhjertigt de hjælpeløse,
overtog huse, som ikke var deres.
20Altid skrabede de til sig,
men intet af det får de gavn af.
21De stjal, hvad de kunne få fat i,
men den slags rigdom varer ikke ved.
22Midt i velstanden rammes de af ulykken,
katastroferne regner ned over dem.
23Mens de sidder i fred og spiser,
rammes de af Guds vrede,
han lader slagene hagle ned over dem.
24De prøver at flygte for sværdet,
men bliver ramt i ryggen af en pil.
25Når de trækker pilen ud,
drypper spidsen af galde.
Dødens rædsler står malet i deres ansigter,
26deres skatte ender i glemslens mørke.
Guds ild fortærer dem,
opbrænder alle deres ejendele.
27Himlens magter straffer dem for deres synd,
jorden vidner imod dem.
28Guds vrede regner ned over dem,
deres huse skylles væk af en flodbølge.
29Sådan er de gudløses skæbne.
Det er Gud selv, der straffer dem.”
