1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,
2 "Therefore my thoughts answer me,
even by reason of my haste that is in me.
3 I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame.
The spirit of my understanding answers me.
4 Don’t you know this from old time,
since man was placed on earth,
5 that the triumphing of the wicked is short,
the joy of the godless but for a moment?
6 Though his height mount up to the heavens,
and his head reach to the clouds,
7 yet he will perish forever like his own dung.
Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
8 He will fly away as a dream, and will not be found.
Yes, he will be chased away like a vision of the night.
9 The eye which saw him will see him no more,
neither will his place see him any more.
10 His children will seek the favor of the poor.
His hands will give back his wealth.
11 His bones are full of his youth,
but youth will lie down with him in the dust.
12 "Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth,
though he hide it under his tongue,
13 though he spare it, and will not let it go,
but keep it still within his mouth,
14 yet his food in his bowels is turned.
It is cobra venom within him.
15 He has swallowed down riches, and he will vomit them up again.
God will cast them out of his belly.
16 He will suck cobra venom.
The viper’s tongue will kill him.
17 He will not look at the rivers,
the flowing streams of honey and butter.
18 He will restore that for which he labored, and will not swallow it down.
He will not rejoice according to the substance that he has gotten.
19 For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor.
He has violently taken away a house, and he will not build it up.
20 "Because he knew no quietness within him,
he will not save anything of that in which he delights.
21 There was nothing left that he didn’t devour,
therefore his prosperity will not endure.
22 In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress will overtake him.
The hand of everyone who is in misery will come on him.
23 When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him.
It will rain on him while he is eating.
24 He will flee from the iron weapon.
The bronze arrow will strike him through.
25 He draws it out, and it comes out of his body.
Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver.
Terrors are on him.
26 All darkness is laid up for his treasures.
An unfanned fire will devour him.
It will consume that which is left in his tent.
27 The heavens will reveal his iniquity.
The earth will rise up against him.
28 The increase of his house will depart.
They will rush away in the day of his wrath.
29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God,
the heritage appointed to him by God."
1 Toe het Sofar, die Naämatiet, geantwoord en gesê:
2 Daarom juis antwoord my gedagtes my, en wel weens my haastigheid in my.
3 'n Bestraffing wat vir my griewend is, moet ek aanhoor; maar die gees uit my verstand antwoord my.
4 Weet jy wel dit wat van altyd af was, vandat die mens op die aarde gemaak is:
5 dat die gejubel van die goddelose kort van duur is en die vreugde van die roekelose net vir 'n oomblik?
6 Al klim sy hoogheid na die hemel toe op, en al raak sy hoof aan die wolke --
7 soos sy eie drek vergaan hy vir ewig; die wat hom gesien het, vra: Waar is hy?
8 Soos 'n droom vlieg hy weg, sodat 'n mens hom nie meer vind nie; en hy word verjaag soos 'n naggesig.
9 Die oog wat hom gesien het, sien hom nie meer nie; en sy plek aanskou hom nie meer nie.
10 Sy kinders moet die guns soek van armes, en met eie hande moet hy sy vermoë teruggee.
11 Sy gebeente was vol van sy jeugdige krag; maar met hom saam lê dit in die stof.
12 Al smaak die kwaad soet in sy mond, al verberg hy dit onder sy tong,
13 al spaar hy dit, en al wil hy dit nie laat vaar nie, maar dit terughou in sy verhemelte --
14 tog word sy voedsel in sy ingewande verander, dit word gal van adders in sy binneste.
15 Rykdom het hy verslind, maar hy moet dit weer uitspuug; uit sy buik dryf God dit weg.
16 Die gif van adders suig hy in, die tong van 'n slang maak hom dood.
17 Hy mag hom nie verlustig in beke, in vloeiende strome van heuning en dikmelk nie.
18 Wat hy deur arbeid verkry het, gee hy terug sonder om dit in te sluk; na die maat van sy ingeruilde rykdom sal hy nie bly wees nie.
19 Want hy het die armes verdruk, aan hulle lot oorgelaat; 'n huis het hy geroof, maar hy sal dit nie opbou nie.
20 Want hy het geen rus geken in sy binneste nie; so sal hy dan nie ontsnap met sy kosbare goed nie.
21 Niks het ontkom aan sy vraatsug nie; daarom is sy voorspoed nie duursaam nie.
22 By die volheid van sy oorvloed sal hy benoud wees: al die hande van ellendiges oorval hom.
23 Om sy buik te vul, sal Hy teen hom uitstuur sy toorngloed, en Hy sal dit op hom laat reën as sy voedsel.
24 Hy sal vlug vir die ysterwapens -- 'n koperboog sal hom deurboor.
25 Hy trek -- daar kom dit uit sy rug, en die glinsterende swaard gaan uit sy gal; verskrikkinge is op hom!
26 Pure duisternis is bewaar vir sy skatte; 'n vuur wat nie deur mense aangeblaas is nie, verteer hom; dit wei af wat in sy tent oorbly.
27 Die hemel openbaar sy ongeregtigheid, en die aarde staan teen hom op.
28 Weggevoer word die opbrings van sy huis -- goed wat wegspoel op die dag van sy toorn.
29 Dit is die deel van die goddelose mens van die kant van God en die erfdeel wat vir hom bestem is deur God.