1 R espondió Zofar naamatita, y dijo:

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

2 P or cierto mis pensamientos me urgen a responder, Y por tanto me apresuro.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6 A unque suba su altivez hasta el cielo, 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 estiércol, perecerá para siempre; Los que le hayan visto dirán: ¿Qué queda de él?

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

8 C omo un sueño pasará, y no será hallado, Y se disipará como visión nocturna,

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 le veía, nunca más le verá, Ni su morada le conocerá más.

The eye which saw him will see him no more. His place will no longer see him.

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

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

11 S us huesos rebosaban de vigor juvenil, Mas con él en el polvo yacerán.

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

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

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

13 S i le parecía bien, y no lo soltaba, Sino que lo retenía en su paladar;

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

14 S u comida se corromperá en sus entrañas; Hiel de áspides será dentro de él.

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

15 D evoró riquezas, pero las vomitará; De su vientre se las sacará Dios.

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

16 V eneno de áspides chupará; Lo matará lengua de víbora.

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

17 N o verá los arroyos, los ríos, Los torrentes de miel y de leche.

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

18 R estituirá su ganancia conforme a los bienes que tomó, Y no los tragará ni gozará.

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

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

20 P or cuanto no se saciaba su vientre, Ni se salvó nada de su codicia,

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

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

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

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

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

23 C uando 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.

When he fills his stomach, God will send His great anger on him. He will send it on him while he is eating.

24 S i escapa de las armas de hierro, El arco de bronce le atravesará.

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

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

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 T odas las tinieblas están reservadas para sus tesoros; Fuego no atizado los consumirá; Devorará lo 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 descubrirán 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 os productos de sus cosechas serán arrastrados por una inundación; Serán esparcidos en el día de su furor.

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

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

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