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.”
Segundo discurso de Zofar
1A esto respondió Zofar de Namat:
2«Mis turbados pensamientos me hacen replicar,
pues me hallo muy desconcertado.
3He escuchado una reprensión que me deshonra
y mi inteligencia me obliga a responder.
4»Bien sabes tú que desde antaño,
desde que Dios puso al ser humano20:4 al ser humano. Alt. a Adán. en la tierra,
5muy breve ha sido la algarabía del malvado
y la alegría del impío ha sido pasajera.
6Aunque su orgullo llegue hasta los cielos
y alcance a tocar con la cabeza las nubes,
7él perecerá para siempre, como su excremento,
y sus allegados dirán: “¿Qué se hizo?”.
8Como un sueño, como una visión nocturna,
se desvanecerá y no volverá a ser hallado.
9Los ojos que lo vieron no volverán a verlo;
su lugar no volverá a contemplarlo.
10Sus hijos tendrán que indemnizar a los pobres;
ellos mismos restituirán las riquezas de su padre.
11El vigor juvenil que hoy sostiene sus huesos
un día reposará en el polvo con él.
12»Aunque en su boca el mal sabe dulce
y lo disimula bajo la lengua,
13y aunque no lo suelta para nada,
sino que tenazmente lo retiene,
14ese pan se le agriará en el estómago;
dentro de él se volverá veneno de áspid.
15Vomitará las riquezas que se engulló;
Dios hará que las arroje de su vientre.
16Chupará veneno de serpientes;
la lengua de un áspid lo matará.
17No disfrutará de los arroyos,
de los ríos de crema y miel;
18no se engullirá las ganancias de sus negocios;
no disfrutará de sus riquezas,
19porque oprimió al pobre y lo dejó sin nada,
y se adueñó de casas que nunca construyó.
20»Su ambición nunca quedó satisfecha;
no se salvará con su tesoro.
21Nada se libró de su voracidad;
por eso no perdurará su bienestar.
22En medio de la abundancia, lo abrumará la angustia;
le sobrevendrá toda la fuerza de la desgracia.
23Cuando el malvado se haya llenado el vientre,
Dios dará rienda suelta a su enojo contra él
y descargará sobre él sus golpes.
24Aunque huya de las armas de hierro,
una flecha de bronce lo atravesará.
25Cuando del hígado y de la espalda
intente sacarse la punta de la flecha,
se verá sobrecogido de espanto,
26y la oscuridad total acechará sus tesoros.
Un fuego no atizado acabará con él
y con todo lo que haya quedado de su casa.
27Los cielos harán pública su culpa;
la tierra se levantará a denunciarlo.
28En el día de la ira de Dios,
un aluvión arrasará con su casa.
29Tal es el fin que Dios reserva al malvado;
tal es la herencia que le asignó».
