1 T hen Zophar the Naamathite answered,

Respondió Zofar, el naamatita, y dijo:

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

«Por cierto mis pensamientos me hacen responder, y por eso me apresuro.

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

He escuchado una reprensión afrentosa y mi inteligencia me inspira la respuesta.

4 D o you not know from long ago, since man was put on earth,

¿No sabes que siempre fue así, que desde el tiempo en que el hombre fue puesto sobre la tierra,

5 t hat the honor of the sinful is short, and the joy of the sinful lasts only a short time?

la alegría de los malos es breve y el gozo del impío sólo dura un momento?

6 E ven if his pride is as high as the heavens and his head touches the clouds,

Aunque se enaltezca hasta el cielo y su cabeza toque las nubes,

7 h e will be gone forever, like his own waste. Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’

como su estiércol, perecerá para siempre; y los que lo hayan visto dirán: “¿Qué es de él?”

8 H e will fly away like a dream, and not be found. He will be driven away like a dream of the night.

Como un sueño volará y no será hallado; se disipará como una visión nocturna.

9 T he eye which saw him will see him no more. His place will no longer see him.

El ojo que lo veía, nunca más lo verá, ni su lugar lo conocerá más.

10 H is sons will look for the favor of the poor. And his hands will give back his riches.

Sus hijos solicitarán el favor de los pobres y sus manos devolverán lo que él robó.

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

Sus huesos, llenos aún de su juventud, yacerán con él en el polvo.

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

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

13 H e hates to let it go, and holds it in his mouth.

si lo saboreaba y no lo dejaba, sino que lo retenía y paladeaba,

14 Y et his food in his stomach is changed to the poison of snakes inside him.

su comida se corromperá en sus entrañas y será veneno de áspides dentro de él.

15 H e eats riches, but will spit them up. God will take them out of his stomach.

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

16 H e will drink the poison of snakes. The snake’s tongue will kill him.

Veneno de áspides chupará; lo matará la lengua de la víbora.

17 H e will not look at the rivers, the rivers flowing with honey and milk.

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

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

Restituirá sus ganancias y sus bienes sin haberlos tragado ni gozado de ellos.

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

Por cuanto quebrantó y desamparó a los pobres, y robó casas no edificadas por él,

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

por eso no tendrá sosiego su vientre ni salvará nada de lo que codiciaba.

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

Nada quedó que él no devorara, y por eso su bienestar no será duradero.

22 E ven when he has many riches, he will have trouble. Everyone who suffers will come against him.

En la plenitud de su abundancia padecerá estrechez; la mano de todos los malvados caerá sobre él.

23 W hen he fills his stomach, God will send His great anger on him. He will send it on 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 may get away from the iron sword, but the brass bow will shoot an arrow in him.

Huirá de las armas de hierro y el arco de bronce lo atravesará.

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

La saeta lo traspasará, atravesará su cuerpo; la punta reluciente saldrá por su hiel. ¡Sobre él vendrán terrores!

26 C omplete 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.

Una total tiniebla está reservada para sus tesoros; un fuego no atizado los consumirá y devorará lo que quede en su morada.

27 T he heavens will make his sin known, and the earth will rise up against him.

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

28 T he things of his house will be carried away. They will be taken away in the day of God’s anger.

Los renuevos de su casa serán llevados de allí, serán esparcidos en el día de su furor.

29 T his is what God has for sinful men. It is what God chooses to give to them.”

Ésta es la suerte que Dios prepara para el hombre impío, la herencia que Dios le señala por su palabra.»