Job 20
1 Respondens autem Sophar Naamathites, dixit:
Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,
2 [Idcirco cogitationes meæ variæ succedunt sibi, et mens in diversa rapitur.
“Therefore my thoughts answer me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.
3 Doctrinam qua me arguis audiam, et spiritus intelligentiæ meæ respondebit mihi.
I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame. The spirit of my understanding answers me.
4 Hoc scio a principio, ex quo positus est homo super terram,
Don’t you know this from old time, since man was placed on earth,
5 quod laus impiorum brevis sit, et gaudium hypocritæ ad instar puncti.
that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?
6 Si ascenderit usque ad cælum superbia ejus, et caput ejus nubes tetigerit,
Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,
7 quasi sterquilinium in fine perdetur, et qui eum viderant, dicent: Ubi est?
yet he will perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
8 Velut somnium avolans non invenietur: transiet sicut visio nocturna.
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 Oculus qui eum viderat non videbit, neque ultra intuebitur eum locus suus.
The eye which saw him will see him no more, neither will his place see him any more.
10 Filii ejus atterentur egestate, et manus illius reddent ei dolorem suum.
His children will seek the favor of the poor. His hands will give back his wealth.
11 Ossa ejus implebuntur vitiis adolescentiæ ejus, et cum eo in pulvere dormient.
His bones are full of his youth, but youth will lie down with him in the dust.
12 Cum enim dulce fuerit in ore ejus malum, abscondet illud sub lingua sua.
“Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,
13 Parcet illi, et non derelinquet illud, et celabit in gutture suo.
though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth,
14 Panis ejus in utero illius vertetur in fel aspidum intrinsecus.
yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him.
15 Divitias quas devoravit evomet, et de ventre illius extrahet eas Deus.
He has swallowed down riches, and he will vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.
16 Caput aspidum suget, et occidet eum lingua viperæ.
He will suck cobra venom. The viper’s tongue will kill him.
17 (Non videat rivulos fluminis, torrentes mellis et butyri.)
He will not look at the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.
18 Luet quæ fecit omnia, nec tamen consumetur: juxta multitudinem adinventionum suarum, sic et sustinebit.
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 Quoniam confringens nudavit pauperes: domum rapuit, et non ædificavit eam.
For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he will not build it up.
20 Nec est satiatus venter ejus: et cum habuerit quæ concupierat, possidere non poterit.
“Because he knew no quietness within him, he will not save anything of that in which he delights.
21 Non remansit de cibo ejus, et propterea nihil permanebit de bonis ejus.
There was nothing left that he didn’t devour, therefore his prosperity will not endure.
22 Cum satiatus fuerit, arctabitur: æstuabit, et omnis dolor irruet super eum.
In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress will overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery will come on him.
23 Utinam impleatur venter ejus, ut emittat in eum iram furoris sui, et pluat super illum bellum suum.
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 Fugiet arma ferrea, et irruet in arcum æreum.
He will flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow will strike him through.
25 Eductus, et egrediens de vagina sua, et fulgurans in amaritudine sua: vadent et venient super eum horribiles.
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 Omnes tenebræ absconditæ sunt in occultis ejus; devorabit eum ignis qui non succenditur: affligetur relictus in tabernaculo suo.
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 Revelabunt cæli iniquitatem ejus, et terra consurget adversus eum.
The heavens will reveal his iniquity. The earth will rise up against him.
28 Apertum erit germen domus illius: detrahetur in die furoris Dei.
The increase of his house will depart. They will rush away in the day of his wrath.
29 Hæc est pars hominis impii a Deo, et hæreditas verborum ejus a Domino.]
This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the heritage appointed to him by God.”
