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.

“My troubled thoughts make me answer, because I have no rest inside.

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

I heard the strong words that take away my honor. The spirit of my understanding makes me answer.

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

Do you not know from long ago, since man was put on earth,

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

that the honor of the sinful is short, and the joy of the sinful lasts only a short time?

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

Even if his pride is as high as the heavens and his head touches the clouds,

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

he will be gone forever, like his own waste. 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 not be found. He will be driven away like a dream 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. His place will no longer see him.

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

His sons will look for the favor of the poor. And his hands will give back his riches.

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

His bones are full of the strength of the young, 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,

“Sin is sweet in his mouth. He hides it under his tongue.

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

He hates to let it go, and holds it in his mouth.

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

Yet his food in his stomach is changed to the poison of snakes inside him.

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

He eats riches, but will spit them up. God will take them out of his stomach.

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

He will drink the poison of snakes. The snake’s tongue will kill him.

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

He will not look at the rivers, the rivers flowing with honey and milk.

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

He must return what he has worked for, and can not eat it. He will not have joy from the riches of his trading.

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

For he has taken from the poor and left them with nothing. He has taken houses which he has not built.

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

“Because he thought he never had enough, he has nothing that gives him joy.

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

There was nothing more for him to get, so his having everything will not last.

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

Even when he has many riches, he will have trouble. Everyone who suffers will come against 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 fills his stomach, God will send His great anger on him. He will send it on him while he is eating.

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

He may get away from the iron sword, but the brass bow will shoot an arrow in him.

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

It cuts through his body and comes out of his back. The shining arrow comes out of his liver. Much fear comes upon him.

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

Complete darkness is stored up for his riches. A fire not kept going by man will burn him up. It will destroy all that is left in his tent.

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

The heavens will make his sin known, and the earth will rise up against him.

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

The things of his house will be carried away. They will be taken away in the day of God’s anger.

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

This is what God has for sinful men. It is what God chooses to give to them.”