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
Mawu a Zofari
1Pamenepo Zofari wa ku Naama anayankha kuti
2“Kuvutika kwa mʼmaganizo kwanga kwandifulumiza kuti ndiyankhe
chifukwa ndasautsidwa kwambiri.
3Ndikumva kudzudzula kondinyoza,
ndipo kumvetsetsa kwanga kwa zinthu kwandifulumiza kuti ndiyankhe.
4“Ndithudi iwe ukudziwa momwe zinthu zakhala zikuchitikira kuyambira kale,
kuchoka nthawi imene munthu analengedwa pa dziko lapansi,
5kuti chisangalalo cha woyipa nʼchosachedwa kutha,
chimwemwe cha wosapembedza Mulungu nʼchakanthawi kochepa.
6Ngakhale atamayenda mapewa ake ali mmwamba
ndipo mutu wake uli nengʼaa,
7iye adzatheratu monga momwe imatayikira ndowe yake yomwe;
iwo amene ankamuona adzati, ‘Kodi uje uja ali kuti?’
8Adzazimirira ngati maloto ndipo sadzapezekanso,
adzachotsedwa ngati masomphenya a usiku.
9Diso limene linamuona silidzamuonanso;
sadzapezekanso pamalo pake.
10Ana ake adzabwezera zonse
zimene iyeyo analanda anthu osauka;
11Mphamvu zaunyamata zimene zili mʼthupi mwake
zidzagona naye limodzi mʼfumbi.
12“Ngakhale zoyipa zili zozuna mʼkamwa mwake
ndipo amazibisa kunsi kwa lilime lake,
13ngakhale salola kuzilavula,
ndipo amazisunga mʼkamwa mwake,
14koma chakudya chake chidzawawasa mʼmimba mwake;
chidzasanduka ngati ndulu ya njoka mʼkati mwa iyeyo.
15Adzachisanza chuma chimene anachimeza;
Mulungu adzachitulutsa mʼmimba mwa munthuyo.
16Iye adzayamwa ndulu ya njoka ndipo
ululu wa mphiri udzamupha.
17Sadzasangalala ndi timitsinje,
mitsinje yoyenda uchi ndi mafuta.
18Ayenera kubweza zimene anazigwirira ntchito osazidya;
sadzasangalala ndi phindu la malonda ake.
19Pakuti iye anapondereza anthu osauka ndipo anawasiya wopanda thandizo;
iyeyo analanda nyumba zimene sanamange.
20“Chifukwa choti umbombo wake sutha,
sadzatha kusunga chilichonse chimene amakondwera nacho.
21Palibe chatsala kuti iye adye;
chuma chake sichidzachedwa kutha.
22Ngakhale ndi munthu wachuma, mavuto adzamugwera;
mavuto aakulu adzamugwera.
23Akadya nʼkukhuta,
Mulungu adzamugwetsera ukali wamoto
ngati mvula yosalekeza.
24Ngakhale athawe mkondo wachitsulo,
muvi wamkuwa wosongoka udzamulasa.
25Muviwo adzawutulutsira ku msana,
songa yake yowala kuchoka mʼmphafa mwake.
Adzagwidwa ndi mantha aakulu;
26mdima wandiweyani ukudikira chuma chake.
Moto wopanda wowukoleza udzamupsereza
ndi kuwononga zonse zotsala mʼnyumba yake.
27Zamumlengalenga zidzawulula kulakwa kwake;
dziko lapansi lidzamuwukira.
28Chigumula cha madzi chidzawononga nyumba yake,
katundu wake adzatengedwa pa tsiku la ukali wa Mulungu.
29Izi ndi zimene Mulungu amasungira anthu oyipa,
mphotho imene Mulungu amayikira iwowo.”
