Zophar
1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
2“My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer
because I am greatly disturbed.
3I hear a rebuke that dishonors 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 forever, 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 vigor 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.”
Sofar Mmuae A Ɛto So Abien
1Na Naamani Sofar buae se,
2Me tirim mu ntew me, na ɛhyɛ me sɛ mimmua
efisɛ me ho yeraw me yiye.
3Mate animka bi a egu me ho fi,
na ntease a minya no hyɛ me sɛ mimmua.
4“Ampa ara wunim sɛnea nneɛma te fi tete,
efi bere a wɔde nnipa duaa asase so no,
5sɛ amumɔyɛfo ani gye bere tiaa bi mu,
na wɔn a wonsuro nyame nso anigye nkyɛ.
6Ɛwɔ mu sɛ nʼahohoahoa kodu ɔsoro,
na ne ti kɔpem omununkum koraa a,
7ɔbɛyera afebɔɔ te sɛ nʼankasa nʼagyanan;
na wɔn a wohuu no no bebisa se, ‘Ɔwɔ he?’
8Otu kɔ te sɛ ɔdae, na wɔrenhu no bio,
wɔn werɛ fi te sɛ anadwo mu anisoadehu.
9Ani a ehuu no no renhu no bio;
na ne sibea nso renhu no bio.
10Ne mma bɛpata ahiafo;
ɛsɛ sɛ nʼankasa de nʼahonya san ma.
11Ne mmerantebere mu ahoɔden a ahyɛ ne nnompe ma no
ne no bɛkɔ mfutuma mu.
12“Ɛwɔ mu sɛ bɔne yɛ nʼanom dɛ
na ɔde sie ne tɛkrɛma ase,
13ɛwɔ mu sɛ ontumi nnyaa mu
na ɔma ɛka ne dudom,
14nanso, nʼaduan bɛyɛ nwen wɔ ne yafunu mu;
ɛbɛyɛ ɔwɔ ano bɔre wɔ ne mu.
15Ɔbɛfe ahonyade a ɔmenee no;
Onyankopɔn bɛma ne yafunu apuw agu.
16Ɔbɛfefe awɔ bɔre;
Ɔnanka se bekum no.
17Ɔrennya nsuwansuwa no nnom
nsubɔnten a nufusu ne ɛwo sen wɔ mu no.
18Ɔbɛdan nea ɔbrɛ nyae no aba a ɔrenni bi;
ɔremfa nʼaguadi mu mfaso nnye nʼani.
19Efisɛ ɔhyɛɛ ahiafo so ma wodii ohia buruburoo;
ɔde ne nsa ato afi a ɛnyɛ ɔno na osii so.
20“Ampa ara ɔrennya ahomegye mfi nea wapere anya no mu;
ɔrentumi mfa nʼademude nnye ne ho nkwa.
21Wafom nneɛma nyinaa awie;
ne nkɔso nnu baabiara.
22Nʼadedodow nyinaa mu no, ɔbɛkɔ ɔhaw mu;
na amanehunu a emu yɛ den bɛto no.
23Bere a nʼafuru ayɛ ma no,
Onyankopɔn bɛtɔ nʼabufuw gya agu ne so
na wabobɔ no basabasa.
24Ɛwɔ mu sɛ oguan fi dade akode ano
nanso bɛmma a ano yɛ kɔbere mfrafrae bɛwɔ no.
25Ɔtwe bɛmma no fi nʼakyi,
ano hyɛnhyɛn no fi ne brɛbo mu.
Ehu bɛba ne so;
26sum kabii retwɛn nʼademude.
Ogya a ɛnnɛw mu bɛhyew no,
na asɛe nea aka wɔ ne ntamadan mu.
27Ɔsoro bɛda nʼafɔdi adi,
na asase asɔre atia no.
28Nsuyiri bɛtwe ne fi akɔ,
saa ara na asuworo bɛyɛ Onyankopɔn abufuwhyew da no.
29Eyi ne nkrabea a Onyankopɔn de ma amumɔyɛfo,
agyapade a Onyankopɔn de ato hɔ ama wɔn ne no.”
