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Zofar describe a los impíos

20 Entonces Zofar, el naamatita respondió:

«Por esto mis pensamientos me hacen responder[a],
A causa de mi inquietud interior[b].
-»He escuchado la reprensión que me insulta(A),
Y el espíritu de mi entendimiento me hace responder.
-»¿Acaso sabes esto, que desde la antigüedad(B),
Desde que el hombre fue puesto sobre la tierra,
Es breve el júbilo de los malvados,
Y un instante dura la alegría del impío(C)?
-»Aunque su orgullo llegue[c] a los cielos,
Y su cabeza toque las nubes(D),
Como su propio estiércol perece para siempre(E);
Los que lo han visto dirán: “¿Dónde está(F)?”.
-»Huye como un sueño(G), y no lo pueden encontrar,
Y como visión nocturna es ahuyentado(H).
-»El ojo que lo veía, ya no lo ve(I),
Y su lugar no lo contempla más(J).
10 -»Sus hijos(K) favorecen a[d] los pobres,
Y sus manos devuelven sus riquezas(L).
11 -»Sus huesos están llenos de vigor juvenil,
Pero yacen con él en el polvo(M).
12 ¶»Aunque el mal sea dulce en su boca(N),
Y lo oculte bajo su lengua,
13 (O)Aunque lo desee[e] y no lo deje ir,
Sino que lo retenga en su paladar,
14 Con todo la comida en sus entrañas se transforma
En veneno[f] de cobras dentro de él.
15 -»Traga riquezas,
Pero las vomitará;
De su vientre se las hará echar Dios(P).
16 -»Chupa veneno de cobras,
Lengua de víbora(Q) lo mata.
17 -»No mira a los arroyos,
A los ríos que fluyen miel y cuajada(R).
18 -»Devuelve lo que ha ganado,
No lo puede tragar(S);
En cuanto a las riquezas de su comercio,
No las puede disfrutar.
19 -»Pues ha oprimido y abandonado a los pobres(T);
Se ha apoderado de una casa que no construyó.
20 ¶»Porque no conoció quietud en su interior[g],
No retiene nada(U) de lo que desea.
21 -»Nada le quedó por devorar[h],
Por eso no dura su prosperidad(V).
22 -»En la plenitud de su abundancia estará en estrechez;
La mano de todo el que sufre vendrá contra él(W).
23 -»Cuando llene su vientre,
Dios enviará contra él el ardor de Su ira(X)
Y la hará llover sobre él mientras come[i](Y).
24 -»Tal vez huya(Z) del arma de hierro,
Pero el arco de bronce lo atravesará.
25 La flecha lo traspasa y sale por[j] su espalda,
Y la punta relumbrante por[k] su hiel(AA).
Vienen sobre él terrores(AB),
26 Completas tinieblas(AC) están reservadas para sus tesoros;
Fuego no atizado lo devorará(AD),
Y consumirá al que quede en su tienda.
27 -»Los cielos revelarán su iniquidad,
Y la tierra se levantará contra él(AE).
28 -»Las riquezas de su casa se perderán(AF);
Serán arrasadas en el día de Su ira[l](AG).
29 -»Esta es la porción de Dios para el hombre impío,
Y la herencia decretada por Dios para él(AH)».

Footnotes

  1. 20:2 Lit. volver.
  2. 20:2 Lit. apresuramiento dentro de mí.
  3. 20:6 Lit. suba.
  4. 20:10 O buscan el favor de.
  5. 20:13 Lit. tenga compasión de él.
  6. 20:14 Lit. hiel.
  7. 20:20 Lit. vientre.
  8. 20:21 O de lo que él devora.
  9. 20:23 O como su alimento.
  10. 20:25 Lit. de.
  11. 20:25 Lit. de.
  12. 20:28 I.e. ira de Dios.

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.

12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;

13 Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:

14 Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.

15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.

17 He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.

18 That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.

19 Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;

20 Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.

21 There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.

22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.

23 When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.

24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.

25 It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.

26 All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.

27 The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.

28 The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.

Zophar Speaks: The Wicked Will Suffer

20 Then (A)Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

“Therefore my (B)thoughts answer me,
    because of my haste within me.
I hear censure that insults me,
    and out of my understanding a spirit answers me.
Do you not know this from of old,
    (C)since man was placed on earth,
(D)that the exulting of the wicked is short,
    and the joy of the godless but for a moment?
(E)Though his height mount up to the heavens,
    and his head reach to the clouds,
he will perish forever like his own (F)dung;
    those who have seen him will say, (G)‘Where is he?’
He will fly away like (H)a dream and not be found;
    he will be chased away like a vision of the night.
(I)The eye that saw him will see him no more,
    nor will his place any more behold him.
10 His children will seek the favor of the poor,
    and his hands will (J)give back his wealth.
11 His bones are full of his (K)youthful vigor,
    but it will lie (L)down with him in the dust.

12 “Though evil is sweet in his mouth,
    though he hides it (M)under his tongue,
13 though he is loath to let it go
    and holds it in his mouth,
14 yet his food is turned in his stomach;
    it is the venom of (N)cobras within him.
15 He swallows down riches and vomits them up again;
    God casts them out of his belly.
16 He will suck the poison of cobras;
    (O)the tongue of a viper will kill him.
17 He will not look upon (P)the rivers,
    the streams flowing with (Q)honey and (R)curds.
18 He will (S)give back the fruit of his toil
    and will not (T)swallow it down;
from the profit of his trading
    he will get no enjoyment.
19 For he has crushed and abandoned the poor;
    he has seized a house that he did not build.

20 “Because he (U)knew no (V)contentment in his belly,
    (W)he will not let anything in which he delights escape him.
21 There was nothing left after he had eaten;
    therefore his prosperity will not endure.
22 In the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in distress;
    the hand of everyone in misery will come against him.
23 To fill his belly to the full,
    God[a] will send his burning anger against him
    and rain it upon him (X)into his body.
24 (Y)He will flee from an iron weapon;
    (Z)a bronze arrow will strike (AA)him through.
25 It (AB)is drawn forth and comes out of his body;
    (AC)the glittering point comes out of his (AD)gallbladder;
    (AE)terrors come upon him.
26 Utter darkness is laid up for his treasures;
    (AF)a fire not fanned will devour him;
    what is left in his tent will be consumed.
27 (AG)The heavens will reveal his iniquity,
    and the earth will rise up against him.
28 The possessions of his house will be carried away,
    dragged off in the day of God's[b] wrath.
29 (AH)This is the wicked man's portion from God,
    (AI)the heritage decreed for him by God.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 20:23 Hebrew he
  2. Job 20:28 Hebrew his

Zophar’s Sermon on the Wicked Man

20 Then (A)Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

“Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer,
Because of the turmoil within me.
I have heard the rebuke [a]that reproaches me,
And the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer.

“Do you not know this of (B)old,
Since man was placed on earth,
(C)That the triumphing of the wicked is short,
And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a (D)moment?
(E)Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens,
And his head reaches to the clouds,
Yet he will perish forever like his own refuse;
Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
He will fly away (F)like a dream, and not be found;
Yes, he (G)will be chased away like a vision of the night.
The eye that saw him will see him no more,
Nor will his place behold him anymore.
10 His children will seek the favor of the poor,
And his hands will restore his wealth.
11 His bones are full of (H)his youthful vigor,
(I)But it will lie down with him in the dust.

12 “Though evil is sweet in his mouth,
And he hides it under his tongue,
13 Though he spares it and does not forsake it,
But still keeps it in his [b]mouth,
14 Yet his food in his stomach turns sour;
It becomes cobra venom within him.
15 He swallows down riches
And vomits them up again;
God casts them out of his belly.
16 He will suck the poison of cobras;
The viper’s tongue will slay him.
17 He will not see (J)the streams,
The rivers flowing with honey and cream.
18 He will restore that for which he labored,
And will not swallow it down;
From the proceeds of business
He will get no enjoyment.
19 For he has [c]oppressed and forsaken the poor,
He has violently seized a house which he did not build.

20 “Because(K) he knows no quietness in his [d]heart,
He will not save anything he desires.
21 Nothing is left for him to eat;
Therefore his well-being will not last.
22 In his self-sufficiency he will be in distress;
Every hand of [e]misery will come against him.
23 When he is about to fill his stomach,
God will cast on him the fury of His wrath,
And will rain it on him while he is eating.
24 (L)He will flee from the iron weapon;
A bronze bow will pierce him through.
25 It is drawn, and comes out of the body;
Yes, (M)the glittering point comes out of his [f]gall.
(N)Terrors come upon him;
26 Total darkness is reserved for his treasures.
(O)An unfanned fire will consume him;
It shall go ill with him who is left in his tent.
27 The heavens will reveal his iniquity,
And the earth will rise up against him.
28 The increase of his house will depart,
And his goods will flow away in the day of His (P)wrath.
29 (Q)This is the portion from God for a wicked man,
The heritage appointed to him by God.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 20:3 Lit. of my insulting correction
  2. Job 20:13 Lit. palate
  3. Job 20:19 crushed
  4. Job 20:20 Lit. belly
  5. Job 20:22 Or the wretched or sufferer
  6. Job 20:25 Gallbladder

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)

12 “Though evil(W) is sweet in his mouth
    and he hides it under his tongue,(X)
13 though he cannot bear to let it go
    and lets it linger in his mouth,(Y)
14 yet his food will turn sour in his stomach;(Z)
    it will become the venom of serpents(AA) within him.
15 He will spit out the riches(AB) he swallowed;
    God will make his stomach vomit(AC) them up.
16 He will suck the poison(AD) of serpents;
    the fangs of an adder will kill him.(AE)
17 He will not enjoy the streams,
    the rivers(AF) flowing with honey(AG) and cream.(AH)
18 What he toiled for he must give back uneaten;(AI)
    he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.(AJ)
19 For he has oppressed the poor(AK) and left them destitute;(AL)
    he has seized houses(AM) he did not build.

20 “Surely he will have no respite from his craving;(AN)
    he cannot save himself by his treasure.(AO)
21 Nothing is left for him to devour;
    his prosperity will not endure.(AP)
22 In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him;(AQ)
    the full force of misery will come upon him.(AR)
23 When he has filled his belly,(AS)
    God will vent his burning anger(AT) against him
    and rain down his blows on him.(AU)
24 Though he flees(AV) from an iron weapon,
    a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.(AW)
25 He pulls it out of his back,
    the gleaming point out of his liver.
Terrors(AX) will come over him;(AY)
26     total darkness(AZ) lies in wait for his treasures.
A fire(BA) unfanned will consume him(BB)
    and devour what is left in his tent.(BC)
27 The heavens will expose his guilt;
    the earth will rise up against him.(BD)
28 A flood will carry off his house,(BE)
    rushing waters[b] on the day of God’s wrath.(BF)
29 Such is the fate God allots the wicked,
    the heritage appointed for them by God.”(BG)

Footnotes

  1. Job 20:4 Or Adam
  2. Job 20:28 Or The possessions in his house will be carried off, / washed away