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.”
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.”
