The Second Speech of Zophar
1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied,
2“My troubled thoughts force me to answer you.
That’s because I’m very upset.
3What you have just said dishonors me.
So I really have to reply to you.
4“I’m sure you must know how things have always been.
They’ve been that way
ever since human beings were placed on this earth.
5Those who are evil are happy for only a short time.
The joy of ungodly people lasts only for a moment.
6Their pride might reach all the way up to the heavens.
Their heads might touch the clouds.
7But they will disappear forever,
like the waste from their own bodies.
Anyone who has seen them will say,
‘Where did they go?’
8Like a dream they will fly away.
They will never be seen again.
They will be driven away like visions in the night.
9The eyes that saw them won’t see them anymore.
Even their own families won’t remember them.
10Their children must pay back what they took from poor people.
Their own hands must give back the wealth they stole.
11They might feel young and very strong.
But they will soon lie down in the dust of their graves.
12“Anything that is evil tastes sweet to them.
They keep it under their tongues for a while.
13They can’t stand to let it go.
So they hold it in their mouths.
14But their food will turn sour in their stomachs.
It will become like the poison of a serpent inside them.
15They will spit out the rich food they swallowed.
God will make their stomachs throw it up.
16They will suck the poison of a serpent.
The fangs of an adder will kill them.
17They won’t enjoy streams that flow with honey.
They won’t enjoy rivers that flow with cream.
18What they worked for they must give back
before they can eat it.
They won’t enjoy what they have earned.
19They’ve crushed poor people and left them with nothing.
They’ve taken over houses they didn’t even build.
20“No matter how much they have,
they always long for more.
But their treasure can’t save them.
21There isn’t anything left for them to eat up.
Their success won’t last.
22While they are enjoying the good life,
trouble will catch up with them.
Terrible suffering will come on them.
23When they’ve filled their stomachs,
God will pour out his great anger on them.
He’ll strike them down with blow after blow.
24They might run away from iron weapons.
But arrows that have bronze tips will wound them.
25They will pull the arrows out of their backs.
They will remove the shining tips from their livers.
They will be filled with terror.
26Total darkness hides and waits for their treasures.
God will send a fire that will destroy them.
It will burn up everything that’s left in their tents.
27Heaven will show their guilt to everyone.
The earth will be a witness against them.
28A flood will carry their houses away.
Rushing water will wash them away
on the day when God judges.
29Now you know what God will do to sinful people.
Now you know what he has planned for them.”
Zophar
1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
2‘My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer
because I am greatly disturbed.
3I hear a rebuke that dishonours me,
and my understanding inspires me to reply.
4‘Surely you know how it has been from of old,
ever since mankind20:4 Or Adam was placed on the earth,
5that the mirth of the wicked is brief,
the joy of the godless lasts but a moment.
6Though the pride of the godless person reaches to the heavens
and his head touches the clouds,
7he will perish for ever, like his own dung;
those who have seen him will say, “Where is he?”
8Like a dream he flies away, no more to be found,
banished like a vision of the night.
9The eye that saw him will not see him again;
his place will look on him no more.
10His children must make amends to the poor;
his own hands must give back his wealth.
11The youthful vigour that fills his bones
will lie with him in the dust.
12‘Though evil is sweet in his mouth
and he hides it under his tongue,
13though he cannot bear to let it go
and lets it linger in his mouth,
14yet his food will turn sour in his stomach;
it will become the venom of serpents within him.
15He will spit out the riches he swallowed;
God will make his stomach vomit them up.
16He will suck the poison of serpents;
the fangs of an adder will kill him.
17He will not enjoy the streams,
the rivers flowing with honey and cream.
18What he toiled for he must give back uneaten;
he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.
19For he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute;
he has seized houses he did not build.
20‘Surely he will have no respite from his craving;
he cannot save himself by his treasure.
21Nothing is left for him to devour;
his prosperity will not endure.
22In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him;
the full force of misery will come upon him.
23When he has filled his belly,
God will vent his burning anger against him
and rain down his blows on him.
24Though he flees from an iron weapon,
a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.
25He pulls it out of his back,
the gleaming point out of his liver.
Terrors will come over him;
26total darkness lies in wait for his treasures.
A fire unfanned will consume him
and devour what is left in his tent.
27The heavens will expose his guilt;
the earth will rise up against him.
28A flood will carry off his house,
rushing waters20:28 Or The possessions in his house will be carried off, / washed away on the day of God’s wrath.
29Such is the fate God allots the wicked,
the heritage appointed for them by God.’
