1 T hen Zophar the Naamathite answered,

Respondió Zofar naamatita, y dijo:

2 T herefore do my thoughts give me an answer, and I make haste for this reason.

Por cierto mis pensamientos me urgen a responder, Y por tanto me apresuro.

3 I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame, but out of my understanding my spirit answers me.

He oído una reprensión que me ultraja, Y me hace responder un soplo de mi mente.

4 D o you not know from of old, since the time that man was placed on the earth,

¿No sabes esto, que así fue siempre, Desde el tiempo que fue puesto el hombre sobre la tierra,

5 T hat the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless and defiled is but for a moment?

Que la alegría de los malos es efímera, Y el gozo del impío sólo dura un momento?

6 T hough his height mounts up to the heavens and his head reaches to the clouds,

Aunque suba su altivez hasta el cielo, Y su cabeza toque las nubes,

7 Y et he will perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, Where is he?

Como su estiércol, perecerá para siempre; Los que le hayan visto dirán: ¿Qué queda de él?

8 H e will fly away like a dream and will not be found; yes, he will be chased away as a vision of the night.

Como un sueño pasará, y no será hallado, Y se disipará como visión nocturna,

9 T he eye which saw him will see him no more, neither will his place any more behold him.

El ojo que le veía, nunca más le verá, Ni su morada le conocerá más.

10 T he poor will oppress his children, and his hands will give back his wealth.

Sus hijos tendrán que indemnizar a los pobres, Y sus manos devolverán lo que él robó.

11 H is bones are full of youthful energy, but it will lie down with him in the dust.

Sus huesos rebosaban de vigor juvenil, Mas con él en el polvo yacerán.

12 T hough wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue,

Si el mal era dulce a su boca, Si lo ocultaba debajo de su lengua,

13 T hough he is loath to let it go but keeps it still within his mouth,

Si le parecía bien, y no lo soltaba, Sino que lo retenía en su paladar;

14 Y et his food turns in his stomach; it is the venom of asps within him.

Su comida se corromperá en sus entrañas; Hiel de áspides será dentro de él.

15 H e has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again; God will cast them out of his belly.

Devoró riquezas, pero las vomitará; De su vientre se las sacará Dios.

16 H e shall suck the poison of asps; the viper’s tongue shall slay him.

Veneno de áspides chupará; Lo matará lengua de víbora.

17 H e shall not look upon the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.

No verá los arroyos, los ríos, Los torrentes de miel y de leche.

18 T hat which he labored for shall he give back and shall not swallow it down; according to his wealth shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice in it.

Restituirá su ganancia conforme a los bienes que tomó, Y no los tragará ni gozará.

19 F or he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has violently taken away a house which he did not build.

Por cuanto quebrantó y desamparó a los pobres, Y robó casas que no había edificado.

20 B ecause his desire and greed knew no quietness within him, he will not save anything of that in which he delights.

Por cuanto no se saciaba su vientre, Ni se salvó nada de su codicia,

21 T here was nothing left that he did not devour; therefore his prosperity will not endure.

Y no quedó nada que no devorase, Por tanto, su bienestar no será duradero.

22 I n the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be poor and in straits; every hand of everyone who is in misery shall come upon him.

En el colmo de su abundancia padecerá estrechez; La mano de todos los malvados vendrá sobre él.

23 W hen he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of His wrath upon him and will rain it upon him while he is eating.

Cuando se ponga a llenar su vientre, Dios enviará sobre él el ardor de su ira, Y la hará llover sobre él y sobre su comida.

24 H e will flee from the iron weapon, but the bow of bronze shall strike him through.

Si escapa de las armas de hierro, El arco de bronce le atravesará.

25 i s drawn forth and it comes out after passing through his body; yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors march in upon him;

La saeta le traspasará y le saldrá por la espalda, Y la punta relumbrante saldrá por su hiel; Sobre él se abatirá el pavor.

26 E very misfortune is laid up for his treasures. A fire not blown by man shall devour him; it shall consume what is left in his tent.

Todas las tinieblas están reservadas para sus tesoros; Fuego no atizado los consumirá; Devorará lo que quede en su tienda.

27 T he heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.

Los cielos descubrirán su iniquidad, Y la tierra se levantará contra él.

28 T he produce and increase of his house will go into exile, dragged away in the day of wrath.

Los productos de sus cosechas serán arrastrados por una inundación; Serán esparcidos en el día de su furor.

29 T his is the wicked man’s portion from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God.

Ésta es la suerte que Dios reserva al hombre impío, Y la heredad que Dios le señala por su palabra.