1 E ntonces Zofar, el Naamatita respondió:

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

2 “ Por esto mis pensamientos me hacen responder, A causa de mi inquietud interior.

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

3 H e escuchado la reprensión que me insulta, Y el espíritu de mi entendimiento me hace responder.

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

4 ¿ Acaso sabes esto, que desde la antigüedad, Desde que el hombre fue puesto sobre la tierra,

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

5 E s breve el júbilo de los malvados, Y un instante dura la alegría del impío ?

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

6 A unque su orgullo llegue a los cielos, Y su cabeza toque las nubes,

Though his height mounts up to the heavens and his head reaches to the clouds,

7 C omo su propio estiércol perece para siempre; Los que lo han visto dirán: ‘¿Dónde está ?’

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

8 H uye como un sueño, y no lo pueden encontrar, Y como visión nocturna es ahuyentado.

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

9 E l ojo que lo veía, ya no lo ve, Y su lugar no lo contempla más.

The eye which saw him will see him no more, neither will his place any more behold him.

10 S us hijos favorecen a los pobres, Y sus manos devuelven sus riquezas.

The poor will oppress his children, and his hands will give back his wealth.

11 S us huesos están llenos de vigor juvenil, Pero yacen con él en el polvo.

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

12 A unque el mal sea dulce en su boca, Y lo oculte bajo su lengua,

Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue,

13 a unque lo desee y no lo deje ir, Sino que lo retenga en su paladar,

Though he is loath to let it go but keeps it still within his mouth,

14 C on todo la comida en sus entrañas se transforma En veneno de cobras dentro de él.

Yet his food turns in his stomach; it is the venom of asps within him.

15 T raga riquezas, Pero las vomitará; De su vientre se las hará echar Dios.

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

16 C hupa veneno de cobras, Lengua de víbora lo mata.

He shall suck the poison of asps; the viper’s tongue shall slay him.

17 N o mira a los arroyos, A los ríos que fluyen miel y cuajada.

He shall not look upon the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.

18 D evuelve lo que ha ganado, No lo puede tragar; En cuanto a las riquezas de su comercio, No las puede disfrutar.

That 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.

19 P ues ha oprimido y abandonado a los pobres; Se ha apoderado de una casa que no construyó.

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

20 P orque no conoció quietud en su interior, No retiene nada de lo que desea.

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

21 N ada le quedó por devorar, Por eso no dura su prosperidad.

There was nothing left that he did not devour; therefore his prosperity will not endure.

22 E n la plenitud de su abundancia estará en estrechez; La mano de todo el que sufre vendrá contra él.

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

23 C uando llene su vientre, Dios enviará contra él el ardor de Su ira Y la hará llover sobre él mientras come.

When 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.

24 T al vez huya del arma de hierro, Pero el arco de bronce lo atravesará.

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

25 L a flecha lo traspasa y sale por su espalda, Y la punta relumbrante por su hiel. Vienen sobre él terrores,

is 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;

26 C ompletas tinieblas están reservadas para sus tesoros; Fuego no atizado lo devorará, Y consumirá al que quede en su tienda.

Every 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.

27 L os cielos revelarán su iniquidad, Y la tierra se levantará contra él.

The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.

28 L as riquezas de su casa se perderán; Serán arrasadas en el día de Su ira.

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

29 E sta es la porción de Dios para el hombre impío, Y la herencia decretada por Dios para él.”

This is the wicked man’s portion from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God.