1Derefter tog Zofar til genmæle:2„Jeg bliver nødt til at sætte dig på plads, for det, du siger, er oprørende.3Det er nemt nok at anklage os, men jeg ved, hvordan jeg skal svare dig.4Ved du ikke, at fra tidernes morgen, så længe der har været mennesker til,5har de gudløses triumf været kort, og deres glæde kun varet et øjeblik?6Selv om deres selvglæde når til himlen, og de går med næsen i sky,7bliver de kastet bort som affald, og deres venner spørger, hvor de blev af.8De forsvinder som en drøm, når man vågner, fordufter, som var det hele et synsbedrag.9Deres venner ser dem ikke mere, aldrig vender de tilbage til deres hjemby.10Børnene må levere tilbage, hvad deres fædre har stjålet, for de svage skal have det igen, som blev taget fra dem.11De gudløse dør og bliver lagt i graven, selv om de stadig var unge og stærke.12De elsker smagen af synd, nyder den i fulde drag,13lader den smelte langsomt på tungen, synker den med stort velbehag.14Men i maven giver den voldsomme smerter, som var det slangegift, de havde slugt.15Gud sørger for, at de kaster den op, den velstand de guffede i sig, kommer op igen.16Men giften har gjort sin virkning, de går til som bidt af en slange.17De kan ikke længere skumme fløden eller nyde en overflod af honning.18De må aflevere deres uretmæssige bytte, får ikke glæde af det, de har ranet.19For de knuste ubarmhjertigt de hjælpeløse, overtog huse, som ikke var deres.20Altid skrabede de til sig, men intet af det får de gavn af.21De stjal, hvad de kunne få fat i, men den slags rigdom varer ikke ved.22Midt i velstanden rammes de af ulykken, katastroferne regner ned over dem.23Mens de sidder i fred og spiser, rammes de af Guds vrede, han lader slagene hagle ned over dem.24De prøver at flygte for sværdet, men bliver ramt i ryggen af en pil.25Når de trækker pilen ud, drypper spidsen af galde. Dødens rædsler står malet i deres ansigter,26deres skatte ender i glemslens mørke. Guds ild fortærer dem, opbrænder alle deres ejendele.27Himlens magter straffer dem for deres synd, jorden vidner imod dem.28Guds vrede regner ned over dem, deres huse skylles væk af en flodbølge.29Sådan er de gudløses skæbne. Det er Gud selv, der straffer dem.”
1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: (Job 2,11)2“Therefore my thoughts answer me, because of my haste within me. (Job 4,13)3I hear censure that insults me, and out of my understanding a spirit answers me.4Do you not know this from of old, since man was placed on earth, (5.Mos 4,32)5that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment? (Salm 37,35)6Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds, (Es 14,13; Ob 1,3)7he will perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’ (1.Kong 14,10; 2.Kong 9,37; Job 14,10; Salm 83,10; Zef 1,17)8He will fly away like a dream and not be found; he will be chased away like a vision of the night. (Salm 73,20; Salm 90,5; Es 29,7)9The eye that saw him will see him no more, nor will his place any more behold him. (Job 7,8; Job 7,10)10His children will seek the favor of the poor, and his hands will give back his wealth. (Job 20,18)11His bones are full of his youthful vigor, but it will lie down with him in the dust. (Job 13,26; Job 21,26; Salm 25,7)12“Though evil is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue, (Salm 10,7)13though he is loath to let it go and holds it in his mouth,14yet his food is turned in his stomach; it is the venom of cobras within him. (5.Mos 32,33; Salm 140,3)15He swallows down riches and vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly.16He will suck the poison of cobras; the tongue of a viper will kill him. (Ord 23,32; Es 59,5)17He will not look upon the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds. (5.Mos 32,13; Job 29,6; Salm 36,8; Jer 17,6)18He will give back the fruit of his toil and will not swallow it down; from the profit of his trading he will get no enjoyment. (Job 20,10; Job 20,15)19For he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he did not build.20“Because he knew no contentment in his belly, he will not let anything in which he delights escape him. (Ord 17,1; Præd 5,13; Es 59,8)21There was nothing left after he had eaten; therefore his prosperity will not endure.22In the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in distress; the hand of everyone in misery will come against him.23To fill his belly to the full, God[1] will send his burning anger against him and rain it upon him into his body. (4.Mos 11,33; Salm 78,30)24He will flee from an iron weapon; a bronze arrow will strike him through. (Dom 5,26; 2.Sam 22,35; Es 24,18; Jer 48,44; Amos 5,19)25It is drawn forth and comes out of his body; the glittering point comes out of his gallbladder; terrors come upon him. (5.Mos 32,41; Dom 3,22; Job 16,13; Job 18,11)26Utter darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not fanned will devour him; what is left in his tent will be consumed. (Job 15,34; Salm 21,9)27The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him. (Job 16,18)28The possessions of his house will be carried away, dragged off in the day of God’s[2] wrath.29This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the heritage decreed for him by God.” (Job 18,21; Job 27,13; Job 31,2)