1Da tok Sofar fra Na'ama til orde og sa:
1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,
2Derfor legger mine tanker mig svaret i munnen, og derfor stormer det i mig;
2“Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.
3hånende tilrettevisning må jeg høre, og min ånd gir mig svar ut fra min innsikt.
3I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame. The spirit of my understanding answers me.
4Vet du da ikke at slik har det vært fra evighet, fra den tid mennesker blev satt på jorden,
4Don’t you know this from old time, since man was placed on earth,
5at de ugudeliges jubel er kort, og den gudløses glede bare varer et øieblikk?
5that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?
6Stiger enn hans stolthet til himmelen, og når enn hans hode til skyen,
6Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,
7så går han dog likesom sitt skarn til grunne for evig; de som så ham, spør: Hvor er han?
7yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him shall say, ‘Where is he?’
8Som en drøm flyr han bort, og ingen finner ham mere; han jages bort som et nattesyn.
8He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found. Yes, he shall be chased away like a vision of the night.
9Det øie som så ham, ser ham ikke mere, og hans sted skuer ham ikke lenger.
9The eye which saw him shall see him no more, neither shall his place any more see him.
10Hans barn må søke småfolks yndest, og hans hender må gi hans gods tilbake.
10His children shall seek the favor of the poor. His hands shall give back his wealth.
11Hans ben var fulle av ungdomskraft, men nu ligger den med ham i støvet.
11His bones are full of his youth, but youth shall lie down with him in the dust.
12Smaker enn det onde søtt i hans munn, skjuler han det under sin tunge,
12“Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,
13sparer han på det og slipper det ikke, men holder det tilbake under sin gane,
13though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;
14så blir dog hans mat omskapt i hans innvoller og blir til ormegift i hans liv.
14yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him.
15Han slukte gods, og han må spy det ut igjen; Gud driver det ut av hans buk.
15He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.
16Ormegift må han innsuge; huggormens tunge dreper ham.
16He shall suck cobra venom. The viper’s tongue shall kill him.
17Han skal ikke få se bekker, elver av honning og elver av melk.
17He shall not look at the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.
18Han må gi tilbake det han har tjent, og får ikke nyte det; meget gods har han vunnet, men han får liten glede av det.
18That 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.
19For han knuste småfolk og lot dem ligge der; han rante hus til sig, men får ikke bygge dem om;
19For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.
20han kjente aldri ro i sitt indre; han skal ikke slippe unda med sine skatter.
20“Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save anything of that in which he delights.
21Det var intet som undgikk hans grådighet; derfor varer ikke hans lykke.
21There was nothing left that he didn’t devour, therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
22Midt i hans rikdom blir det trangt for ham; hver nødlidende vender sin hånd mot ham.
22In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress shall overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come on him.
23For å fylle hans buk sender Gud sin brennende vrede mot ham og lar sin mat regne på ham.
23When 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.
24Flykter han for våben av jern, så gjennemborer en bue av kobber ham.
24He shall flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow shall strike him through.
25Når han så drar pilen ut av sin rygg, og den lynende odd kommer frem av hans galle, da faller dødsredsler over ham.
25He draws it forth, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on him.
26Alt mørke er opspart for hans vel gjemte skatter; en ild som intet menneske puster til, fortærer ham; den eter det som er igjen i hans telt.
26All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent.
27Himmelen åpenbarer hans misgjerning, og jorden reiser sig mot ham.
27The heavens shall reveal his iniquity. The earth shall rise up against him.
28Det han har samlet i sitt hus, føres bort, det skylles bort på Guds vredes dag.
28The increase of his house shall depart. They shall rush away in the day of his wrath.
29Dette er den lodd som et ugudelig menneske får av Gud, den arv som er tilkjent ham av den Allmektige.
29This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the heritage appointed to him by God.”