琐法再度发言

20 拿玛人琐法回答说:

“我感到烦躁不安,
心中有话不吐不快。
我听见你侮辱我的斥责,
我的理智催促我回答。
难道你不知道,从古至今,
自从世上有人以来,
恶人得势不会长久,
不信上帝者的快乐转瞬即逝?
虽然他傲气冲天,
把头挺到云端,
终必如自己的粪便永远消亡,
见过他的人都不知他在何处。
他如梦消逝,踪影杳然;
如夜间的异象,飞逝而去。
见过他的人不会再见到他,
他将从家乡消失无踪。
10 他的儿女要向穷人乞怜,
他要亲手偿还不义之财。
11 他的筋骨依然强健,
却要随他葬入尘土。

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Zophar

20 Then Zophar the Naamathite(A) replied:

“My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer
    because I am greatly disturbed.(B)
I hear a rebuke(C) that dishonors me,
    and my understanding inspires me to reply.

“Surely you know how it has been from of old,(D)
    ever since mankind[a] was placed on the earth,
that the mirth of the wicked(E) is brief,
    the joy of the godless(F) lasts but a moment.(G)
Though the pride(H) of the godless person reaches to the heavens(I)
    and his head touches the clouds,(J)
he will perish forever,(K) like his own dung;
    those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’(L)
Like a dream(M) he flies away,(N) no more to be found,
    banished(O) like a vision of the night.(P)
The eye that saw him will not see him again;
    his place will look on him no more.(Q)
10 His children(R) must make amends to the poor;
    his own hands must give back his wealth.(S)
11 The youthful vigor(T) that fills his bones(U)
    will lie with him in the dust.(V)

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Footnotes

  1. Job 20:4 Or Adam

20 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.

I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.

Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

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

The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

10 His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.

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

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