Study Desk

Zophar

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)

His children^(r) must make amends to the poor; his own hands must give back his wealth.^(s)

The youthful vigor^(t) that fills his bones^(u) will lie with him in the dust.^(v)

"Though evil^(w) is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue,^(x)

though he cannot bear to let it go and lets it linger in his mouth,^(y)

yet his food will turn sour in his stomach;^(z) it will become the venom of serpents^(aa) within him.

He will spit out the riches^(ab) he swallowed; God will make his stomach vomit^(ac) them up.

He will suck the poison^(ad) of serpents; the fangs of an adder will kill him.^(ae)

He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers^(af) flowing with honey^(ag) and cream.^(ah)

What he toiled for he must give back uneaten;^(ai) he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.^(aj)

For he has oppressed the poor^(ak) and left them destitute;^(al) he has seized houses^(am) he did not build.

"Surely he will have no respite from his craving;^(an) he cannot save himself by his treasure.^(ao)

Nothing is left for him to devour; his prosperity will not endure.^(ap)

In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him;^(aq) the full force of misery will come upon him.^(ar)

When he has filled his belly,^(as) God will vent his burning anger^(at) against him and rain down his blows on him.^(au)

Though he flees^(av) from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.^(aw)

He pulls it out of his back, the gleaming point out of his liver. Terrors^(ax) will come over him;^(ay)

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)

The heavens will expose his guilt; the earth will rise up against him.^(bd)

A flood will carry off his house,^(be) rushing waters^[b] on the day of God's wrath.^(bf)

Such is the fate God allots the wicked, the heritage appointed for them by God."^(bg)

Job

Then Job replied:

"Listen carefully to my words;^(a) let this be the consolation you give me.^(b)

Bear with me while I speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.^(c)

"Is my complaint^(d) directed to a human being? Why should I not be impatient?^(e)

Look at me and be appalled; clap your hand over your mouth.^(f)

When I think about this, I am terrified;^(g) trembling seizes my body.^(h)

Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?⁽ⁱ⁾

They see their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes.^(j)

Their homes are safe and free from fear;^(k) the rod of God is not on them.^(l)

Their bulls never fail to breed; their cows calve and do not miscarry.^(m)

They send forth their children as a flock;⁽ⁿ⁾ their little ones dance about.

They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre;^(o) they make merry to the sound of the pipe.^(p)

They spend their years in prosperity^(q) and go down to the grave^(r) in peace.^[a](s)

Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone!^(t) We have no desire to know your ways.^(u)

Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?'^(v)

But their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.^(w)

"Yet how often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out?^(x) How often does calamity^(y) come upon them, the fate God allots in his anger?^(z)

How often are they like straw before the wind, like chaff^(aa) swept away^(ab) by a gale?^(ac)

It is said, ‘God stores up the punishment of the wicked for their children.'^(ad) Let him repay the wicked, so that they themselves will experience it!^(ae)

Let their own eyes see their destruction;^(af) let them drink^(ag) the cup of the wrath of the Almighty.^(ah)

For what do they care about the families they leave behind^(ai) when their allotted months^(aj) come to an end?^(ak)

"Can anyone teach knowledge to God,^(al) since he judges even the highest?^(am)

One person dies in full vigor,^(an) completely secure and at ease,^(ao)

well nourished^(ap) in body,^[b] bones^(aq) rich with marrow.^(ar)

Another dies in bitterness of soul,^(as) never having enjoyed anything good.

Side by side they lie in the dust,^(at) and worms^(au) cover them both.^(av)

"I know full well what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me.

You say, ‘Where now is the house of the great,^(aw) the tents where the wicked lived?'^(ax)

Have you never questioned those who travel? Have you paid no regard to their accounts—

that the wicked are spared from the day of calamity,^(ay) that they are delivered from^[c] the day of wrath?^(az)

Who denounces their conduct to their face? Who repays them for what they have done?^(ba)

They are carried to the grave, and watch is kept over their tombs.^(bb)

The soil in the valley is sweet to them;^(bc) everyone follows after them, and a countless throng goes^[d] before them.^(bd)

"So how can you console me^(be) with your nonsense? Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!"^(bf)