1 Da svarte Zofar fra Naama.

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

2 "Mine tanker gir meg svar, på grunn av min hast.

"Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, Even by reason of my haste that is in me.

3 Jeg har hørt irettesettelsen som gir meg skam; forståelsens ånd svarer meg.

I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame; The spirit of my understanding answers me.

4 Vet du ikke dette fra gammelt av, siden mennesket ble satt på jorden,

Don't you know this from old time, Since man was placed on earth,

5 at den ugudeliges triumf er kortvarig, den gudløses glede bare et øyeblikk?

That the triumphing of the wicked is short, The joy of the godless but for a moment?

6 Selv om hans høyde stiger opp til himmelen, og hans hode når skyene,

Though his height mount up to the heavens, And his head reach to the clouds,

7 skal han likevel gå til grunne for alltid som sin egen skitt; de som har sett ham skal si: 'Hvor er han?'

Yet he shall perish forever like his own dung, Those who have seen him shall say, 'Where is he?'

8 Han skal forsvinne som en drøm og ikke bli funnet; ja, han skal bli jaget bort som et nattsyn.

He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: Yes, he shall be chased away like a vision of the night.

9 Øyet som så ham skal ikke se ham mer, heller ikke skal hans sted se ham mer.

The eye which saw him shall see him no more, Neither shall his place any more see him.

10 Hans barn skal søke de fattiges gunst. Hans hender skal gi tilbake hans rikdom.

His children shall seek the favor of the poor. His hands shall give back his wealth.

11 Hans ben er fulle av ungdom, men ungdommen skal legge seg med ham i støvet.

His bones are full of his youth, But youth shall lie down with him in the dust.

12 "Selv om ondskap smaker søtt i hans munn, selv om han gjemmer det under sin tunge,

"Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, Though he hide it under his tongue,

13 selv om han sparer det, og ikke lar det gå, men beholder det i sin munn,

Though he spare it, and will not let it go, But keep it still within his mouth;

14 vil maten i hans innvoller bli forvandlet. Det er kobragift i ham.

Yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him.

15 Han har slukt rikdommer, og han skal spy dem opp igjen. Gud vil kaste dem ut av hans mage.

He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.

16 Han skal suge kobragift. Huggormens tunge skal drepe ham.

He shall suck cobra venom. The viper's tongue shall kill him.

17 Han skal ikke se elvene, de strømmende bekker av honning og smør.

He shall not look at the rivers, The flowing streams of honey and butter.

18 Det han arbeidet for skal han gi tilbake, og han skal ikke sluke det; etter det han har tatt, skal han ikke fryde seg.

That for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down; According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.

19 For han har undertrykt og forlatt de fattige. Han har med makt tatt et hus, og han skal ikke bygge det opp.

For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.

20 "Fordi han ikke kjente ro inni seg, skal han ikke bevare noe av det han gleder seg i.

"Because he knew no quietness within him, He shall not save anything of that in which he delights.

21 Det var ingenting igjen som han ikke fortærte, derfor skal hans velstand ikke vare.

There was nothing left that he didn't devour, Therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

22 I overflod av det han har, skal nød overvelde ham: Alles hånd som er i nød skal komme over ham.

In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress shall overtake him: The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come on him.

23 Når han er i ferd med å fylle sin mage, vil Gud kaste sin voldsomme vrede over ham. Det vil regne over ham mens han spiser.

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 Han skal flykte fra jernvåpenet. Bronsespydet skal trenge gjennom ham.

He shall flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow shall strike him through.

25 Han trekker det ut, og det kommer ut av hans kropp. Ja, den glitrende spissen kommer ut av hans lever. Redslene er over ham.

He draws it forth, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on him.

26 Alt mørke er gjemt for hans skatter. En ild som ikke er pustet av mennesker skal fortære ham. Det skal fortære det som er igjen i hans telt.

All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent.

27 Himmelen skal avsløre hans ondskap, jorden skal reise seg mot ham.

The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, The earth shall rise up against him.

28 Økningen av hans hus skal forsvinne; de skal rase bort på vredens dag.

The increase of his house shall depart; They shall rush away in the day of his wrath.

29 Dette er det en ugudelig mann får fra Gud, arven bestemt for ham av Gud."

This is the portion of a wicked man from God, The heritage appointed to him by God."