2.9 KiB
Zophar Says the Joy of the Wicked Is Short
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Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,
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"Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me respond, Even because of my haste within me.
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I listened to the discipline which dishonors me, And the spirit of my understanding makes me answer.
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Do you know this from of old, From the establishment of man on earth,
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That the shouts of joy of the wicked are short, And the gladness of the godless momentary?
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Though his loftiness goes up to the heavens, And his head touches the clouds,
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He perishes forever like his refuse; Those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'
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He flies away like a dream, and they cannot find him; Even like a vision of the night he is chased away.
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The eye which saw him sees him no longer, And his place no longer beholds him.
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His sons seek the favor of the poor, And his hands give back his wealth.
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His bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it lies down with him in the dust.
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"Though evil is sweet in his mouth And he hides it under his tongue,
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Though he desires it and will not forsake it, And holds it to his palate,
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Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the venom of cobras within him.
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He swallows up wealth, But will vomit it up; God will expel it from his belly.
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He sucks the poison of cobras; The viper's tongue kills him.
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He does not look at the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and curds.
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He returns what he has attained And cannot swallow it; As to the wealth of his trading, He cannot even enjoy it.
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For he has crushed and forsaken the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built.
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"Because he knew no ease within his belly, In his covetousness, he does not let anything escape.
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Nothing remains for him to devour; Therefore his prosperity does not endure.
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In the fullness of his plenty he will be confined; The hand of everyone who is troubled will come against him.
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So it will be that he fills his belly, And God will send His burning anger on him And will rain it on him while he is eating.
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He may flee from the iron weapon, But the bronze bow will pierce him.
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It is drawn forth and comes out of his back, Even the glittering point from his gall; Bouts of dread come upon him.
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Complete darkness is held in reserve for his treasures; A fire unfanned will devour him; It will consume the survivor in his tent.
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The heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him.
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The increase of his house will depart; His possessions will flow away in the day of His anger.
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This is the wicked man's portion from God, Even the inheritance decreed to him by God."