Job 20
1 Respondens autem Sophar Naamathites, dixit:
Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,
2 Idcirco cogitationes meæ variæ succedunt sibi, et mens in diversa rapitur.
“My thoughts make me answer quickly because of the worry that is in me.
3 Doctrinam, qua me arguis, audiam, et spiritus intelligentiæ meæ respondebit mihi.
I hear a rebuke that dishonors me, but a spirit from my understanding answers me.
4 Hoc scio a principio, ex quo positus est homo super terram:
Do you not know this fact from ancient times, when God placed man on earth:
5 Quod laus impiorum brevis sit, et gaudium hypocritæ ad instar puncti.
the triumph of a wicked man is short, and the joy of a godless man lasts only for a moment?
6 Si ascenderit usque ad cælum superbia eius, et caput eius nubes tetigerit:
Though his height reaches up to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds,
7 Quasi sterquilinium in fine perdetur: et qui eum viderant, dicent: Ubi est?
yet such a person will perish permanently like his own feces; those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'
8 Velut somnium avolans non invenietur, transiet sicut visio nocturna.
He will fly away like a dream and will not be found; indeed, 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 that saw him will see him no more; his place will see him no longer.
10 Filii eius atterentur egestate, et manus illius reddent ei dolorem suum.
His children will apologize to poor people; his hands will have to give back his wealth.
11 Ossa eius implebuntur vitiis adolescentiæ eius, et cum eo in pulvere dormient.
His bones are full of youthful strength, but it will lie down with him in the dust.
12 Cum enim dulce fuerit in ore eius malum, abscondet illud sub lingua sua.
Although wickedness is sweet in his mouth, although he hides it under his tongue,
13 Parcet illi, et non derelinquet illud, et celabit in gutture suo.
although he holds it there and does not let it go but keeps it still in his mouth—
14 Panis eius in utero illius vertetur in fel aspidum intrinsecus.
the food in his intestines turns bitter; it becomes the poison of asps inside him.
15 Divitias, quas devoravit, evomet, et de ventre illius extrahet eas Deus.
He swallows down riches, but he will vomit them up again; God will cast them out of his stomach.
16 Caput aspidum suget, et occidet eum lingua viperæ.
He will suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue will kill him.
17 (Non videat rivulos fluminis, torrentes mellis, et butyri.)
He will not enjoy the streams, the torrents of honey and butter.
18 Luet quæ fecit omnia, nec tamen consumetur: iuxta multitudinem adinventionum suarum, sic et sustinebit.
He will give back the fruit of his labor and will not be able to eat it; he will not enjoy the wealth earned by his commerce.
19 Quoniam confringens nudavit pauperes: domum rapuit, et non ædificavit eam.
For he has oppressed and neglected poor people; he has violently taken away houses that he did not build.
20 Nec est satiatus venter eius: et cum habuerit quæ concupierat, possidere non poterit.
Because he has known no satisfaction himself, he will not be able to save anything in which he takes pleasure.
21 Non remansit de cibo eius, et propterea nihil permanebit de bonis eius.
There is nothing left that he did not devour; therefore his prosperity will not be permanent.
22 Cum satiatus fuerit, arctabitur, æstuabit, et omnis dolor irruet super eum.
In the abundance of his wealth he will fall into trouble; the hand of everyone who is in poverty will come against him.
23 Utinam impleatur venter eius, ut emittat in eum iram furoris sui, et pluat super illum bellum suum.
When he is about to fill his stomach, God will throw the fierceness of his wrath on him; God will rain it down on him while he is eating.
24 Fugiet arma ferrea, et irruet in arcum æreum:
Although that man will flee from the iron weapon, a bow of bronze will shoot him.
25 Eductus, et egrediens de vagina sua, et fulgurans in amaritudine sua: vadent, et venient super eum horribiles.
He pulls it out of his back and the gleaming point comes out of his liver. Terrors come over him.
26 Omnes tenebræ absconditæ sunt in occultis eius: devorabit eum ignis, qui non succenditur, affligetur relictus in tabernaculo suo.
Complete darkness is reserved for his treasures; a fire not fanned will devour him; it will consume what is left in his tent.
27 Revelabunt cæli iniquitatem eius, et terra consurget adversus eum.
The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him as a witness.
28 Apertum erit germen domus illius, detrahetur in die furoris Dei.
The wealth of his house will vanish; his goods will flow away on the day of God's wrath.
29 Hæc est pars hominis impii a Deo, et hereditas verborum eius a Domino.
This is the wicked man's portion from God, the heritage reserved for him by God.”
