Job 20

vayya'an tsofar hanna'amati vayyomar

Zophar the Naamathite said in reply:

lakhen se'ippay yeshivuni uva'avur khushi vi

In truth, my thoughts urge me to answer (It is because of my feelings

musar kelimmati eshma veruakh mibbinati ya'aneni

When I hear reproof that insults me); A spirit out of my understanding makes me reply:

hazot yadata minni-ad minni sim adam ale-arets

Do you not know this, that from time immemorial, Since humankind was set on earth,

ki rinnat resha'im miqqarov vesimkhat khanef ade-raga

The joy of the wicked has been brief, The happiness of the impious man, fleeting?

im-ya'aleh lashamayim si'o verosho la'av yaggia

Though he grows as high as the sky, His head reaching the clouds,

kegello lanetsakh yoved ro'ayw yomeru ayyo

He perishes forever, like his dung; Those who saw him will say, “Where is he?”

kakhalom ya'uf velo yimtsa'uhu veyuddad kekhezyon layelah

He flies away like a dream and cannot be found; He is banished like a night vision.

ayin shezafattu velo tosif velo-od teshurennu meqomo

Eyes that glimpsed him do so no more; They cannot see him in his place any longer.

banayw yeratsu dallim veyadayw tashevenah ono

His children ingratiate themselves with the poor; His own hands must give back his wealth.

atsmotayw male'u alumav ve'immo al-afar tishkav

His bones, still full of vigor, Lie down in the dust with him.

im-tamtiq befiv ra'ah yakhkhidennah takhat leshono

Though evil is sweet to his taste, And he conceals it under his tongue;

yakhmol aleha velo ya'azvennah veyimna'ennah betokh khikko

Though he saves it, does not let it go, Holds it inside his mouth,

lakhmo beme'ayw nehpakh merorat petanim beqirbo

His food in his bowels turns Into asps’ venom within him.

khayil bala vayeqi'ennu mibbitno yorishennu el

The riches he swallows he vomits; God empties it out of his stomach.

rosh-petanim yinaq tahargehu leshon efeh

He sucks the poison of asps; The tongue of the viper kills him.

al-yere viflaggot nahare nakhale devash vekhemah

Let him not enjoy the streams, The rivers of honey, the brooks of cream.

meshiv yaga velo yivla kekhel temurato velo ya'alos

He will give back the goods unswallowed; The value of the riches, undigested.

ki-ritsats azav dallim bayit gazal velo yivnehu

Because he crushed and tortured the poor, He will not build up the house he took by force.

ki lo-yada shalev bevitno bakhamudo lo yemallet

He will not see his children tranquil; He will not preserve one of his dear ones.

en-sarid le'okhlo al-ken lo-yakhil tuvo

With no survivor to enjoy it, His fortune will not prosper.

bimlovt sifqo yetser lo kol-yad amel tevo'ennu

When he has all he wants, trouble will come; Misfortunes of all kinds will batter him.

yehi lemalle vitno yeshallakh-bo kharon appo veyamter alemo bilkhumo

Let that fill his belly; Let [God] loose burning anger at him, And God’s weapons rain down upon him.

yivrakh minnesheq barzel takhlefehu qeshet nekhushah

Fleeing from iron arrows, He is shot through from a bow of bronze.

shalaf vayyetse miggevah uvaraq mimmerorato yahalokh alayw emim

Brandished and run through his body, The blade, through his gall, Strikes terror into him.

kol-khoshekh tamun litspunayw te'okhlehu esh lo-nuppakh yera sarid be'oholo

Utter darkness waits for his treasured ones; A fire, fanned by no one, will consume him; Who survives in his tent will be crushed.

yegallu shamayim avono ve'erets mitqomamah lo

Heaven will expose his iniquity; Earth will rise up against him.

yigel yevul beto niggarot beyom appo

His household will be cast forth by a flood, Spilled out on the day of God’s wrath.

zeh kheleq-adam rasha me'elohim venakhalat imro me'el

This is the wicked man’s portion from God, The lot God has ordained for him.