1
וַיַּעַן צֹפַר הַנַּעֲמָתִי וַיֹּאמַר
Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:
Ὑπολαβὼν δὲ Σωφὰρ ὁ Μιναῖος, λέγει,
Then Zophar the Minaean answered and said,
2
לָכֵן שְׂעִפַּי יְשִׁיבוּנִי וּבַעֲבוּר חוּשִׁי בִי
Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of mine agitation that is in me.
Οὐχ οὕτως ὑπελάμβανον ἀντερεῖν σε ταῦτα, καὶ οὐχὶ συνίετε μᾶλλον ἢ καὶ ἐγώ.
I did not suppose that thou wouldest answer thus: Neither do ye understand more than I.
3
מוּסַר כְּלִמָּתִי אֶשְׁמָע וְרוּחַ מִבִּינָתִי יַעֲנֵנִי
I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame, but out of my understanding my spirit answereth me.
Παιδείαν ἐντροπῆς μου ἀκούσομαι, καὶ πνεῦμα ἐκ τῆς συνέσεως ἀποκρίνεταί μοι.
I will hear my shameful reproach; And the spirit of my understanding answers me.
4
הֲזֹאת יָדַעְתָּ מִנִּי־עַד מִנִּי שִׂים אָדָם עֲלֵי־אָרֶץ
Knowest thou not this of old time, since man was placed upon earth,
Μὴ ταῦτα ἔγνως ἀπὸ τοῦ ἔτι, ἀφʼ οὗ ἐτέθη ἄνθρωπος ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς;
Hast thou [not] known these things of old, From the time that man was set upon the earth?
5
כִּי רִנְנַת רְשָׁעִים מִקָּרוֹב וְשִׂמְחַת חָנֵף עֲדֵי־רָגַע
That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment?
Εὐφροσύνη δὲ ἀσεβῶν πτῶμα ἐξαίσιον, χαρμονὴ δὲ παρανόμων ἀπώλεια·
But the mirth of the ungodly is a signal downfall, And the joy of transgressors is destruction:
6
אִם־יַעֲלֶה לַשָּׁמַיִם שִׂיאוֹ וְרֹאשׁוֹ לָעָב יַגִּיעַ
Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;
ἐὰν ἀναβῇ εἰς οὐρανὸν αὐτοῦ τὰ δῶρα, ἡ δὲ θυσία αὐτοῦ νεφῶν ἅψηται.
Although his gifts should go up to heaven, And his sacrifice reach the clouds.
7
כְּגֶלֲלוֹ לָנֶצַח יֹאבֵד רֹאָיו יֹאמְרוּ אַיּוֹ
Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung; they that have seen him shall say: 'Where is he?'
Ὅταν γὰρ δοκῇ ἤδη κατεστηρίχθαι, τότε εἰς τέλος ἀπολεῖται· οἱ δὲ εἰδότες αὐτὸν ἐροῦσι, ποῦ ἐστιν;
For when he shall seem to be now established, Then he shall utterly perish: And they that knew him shall say, Where is he?
8
כַּחֲלוֹם יָעוּף וְלֹא יִמְצָאוּהוּ וְיֻדַּד כְּחֶזְיוֹן לָיְלָה
He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found; yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.
Ὥσπερ ἐνύπνιον ἐκπετασθὲν οὐ μὴ εὑρεθῇ, ἔπτη δὲ ὥσπερ φάσμα νυκτερινόν.
Like a dream that has fled away, he shall not be found; And he has fled like a vision of the night.
9
עַיִן שְׁזָפַתּוּ וְלֹא תוֹסִיף וְלֹא־עוֹד תְּשׁוּרֶנּוּ מְקוֹמוֹ
The eye which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.
Ὀφθαλμὸς παρέβλεψε, καὶ οὐ προσθήσει, καὶ οὐκ ἔτι προσνοήσει αὐτὸν ὁ τόπος αὐτοῦ.
The eye has looked upon him, but shall not [see him] again; And his place shall no longer perceive him.
10
בָּנָיו יְרַצּוּ דַלִּים וְיָדָיו תָּשֵׁבְנָה אוֹנוֹ
His children shall appease the poor, and his hands shall restore his wealth.
Τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ ὀλέσαισαν ἥττονες, αἱ δὲ χεῖρες αὐτοῦ πυρσεύσαισαν ὀδύνας.
Let [his] inferiors destroy his children, And let his hands kindle the fire of sorrow.
11
עַצְמוֹתָיו מָלְאוּ עלומו עֲלוּמָיו וְעִמּוֹ עַל־עָפָר תִּשְׁכָּב
His bones are full of his youth, but it shall lie down with him in the dust.
Ὀστᾶ αὐτοῦ ἐνεπλήσθησαν νεότητος αὐτοῦ, καὶ μετʼ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ χώματος κοιμηθήσεται.
His bones have been filled with [vigor of] his youth, And it shall lie down with him in the dust.
12
אִם־תַּמְתִּיק בְּפִיו רָעָה יַכְחִידֶנָּה תַּחַת לְשׁוֹנוֹ
Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;
Ἐὰν γλυκανθῇ ἐν στόματι αὐτοῦ κακία, κρύψει αὐτὴν ὑπὸ τὴν γλῶσσαν αὐτοῦ,
Though evil be sweet in his mouth, [Though] he will hide it under his tongue;
13
יַחְמֹל עָלֶיהָ וְלֹא יַעַזְבֶנָּה וְיִמְנָעֶנָּה בְּתוֹךְ חִכּוֹ
Though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;
οὐ φείσεται αὐτῆς, καὶ οὐκ ἐγκαταλείψει αὐτήν· καὶ συνάξει αὐτὴν ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ λάρυγγος αὐτοῦ,
Though he will not spare it, and will not leave it, But will keep it in the midst of his throat:
14
לַחְמוֹ בְּמֵעָיו נֶהְפָּךְ מְרוֹרַת פְּתָנִים בְּקִרְבּוֹ
Yet his food in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.
καὶ οὐ μὴ δυνηθῇ βοηθῆσαι ἑαυτῷ· χολὴ ἀσπίδος ἐν γαστρὶ αὐτοῦ.
Yet he shall not at all be able to help himself; The gall of an asp is in his belly.
15
חַיִל בָּלַע וַיְקִאֶנּוּ מִבִּטְנוֹ יוֹרִשֶׁנּוּ אֵל
He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again; G-d shall cast them out of his belly.
Πλοῦτος ἀδίκως συναγόμενος ἐξεμεθήσεται, ἐξ οἰκίας αὐτοῦ ἐξελκύσει αὐτὸν ἄγγελος.
[His] wealth unjustly collected shall be vomited up; A messenger [of wrath] shall drag him out of his house.
16
רֹאשׁ־פְּתָנִים יִינָק תַּהַרְגֵהוּ לְשׁוֹן אֶפְעֶה
He shall suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue shall slay him.
Θυμὸν δὲ δρακόντων θηλάσειεν, ἀνέλοι δὲ αὐτὸν γλῶσσα ὄφεως.
And let him suck the poison of serpents, And let the serpent’s tongue slay him.
17
אַל־יֵרֶא בִפְלַגּוֹת נַהֲרֵי נַחֲלֵי דְּבַשׁ וְחֶמְאָה
He shall not look upon the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and curd.
Μὴ ἴδοι ἄμελξιν νομάδων, μηδὲ νομὰς μέλιτος καὶ βουτύρου.
Let him not see the milk of the pastures, Nor the supplies of honey and butter.
18
מֵשִׁיב יָגָע וְלֹא יִבְלָע כְּחֵיל תְּמוּרָתוֹ וְלֹא יַעֲלֹס
That which he laboured for shall he give back, and shall not swallow it down; according to the substance that he hath gotten, he shall not rejoice.
Εἰς κενὰ καὶ μάταια ἐκοπίασε, πλοῦτον ἐξ οὗ οὐ γεύσεται· ὥσπερ στρίφνος ἀμάσητος, ἀκατάποτος.
He has labored unprofitably and in vain, [for] wealth of which he shall not taste: [It is] as a lean thing, unfit for food, which he cannot swallow.
19
כִּי־רִצַּץ עָזַב דַּלִּים בַּיִת גָּזַל וְלֹא יִבֶנֵהוּ
For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.
Πολλῶν γὰρ δυνατῶν οἴκους ἔθλασε· δίαιταν δὲ ἥρπασε, καὶ οὐκ ἔστησεν.
For he has broken down the houses of many mighty men: And he has plundered a habitation, though he built [it] not.
20
כִּי לֹא־יָדַע שָׁלֵו בְּבִטְנוֹ בַּחֲמוּדוֹ לֹא יְמַלֵּט
Because he knew no quietness within him, in his greed he suffered nought to escape,
Οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῦ σωτηρία τοῖς ὑπάρχουσιν, ἐν ἐπιθυμίᾳ αὐτοῦ οὐ σωθήσεται.
There is no security to his possessions; He shall not be saved by his desire.
21
אֵין־שָׂרִיד לְאָכְלוֹ עַל־כֵּן לֹא־יָחִיל טוּבוֹ
There was nothing left that he devoured not--therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
Οὐκ ἔστιν ὑπόλειμμα τοῖς βρώμασιν αὐτοῦ, διὰ τοῦτο οὐκ ἀνθήσει αὐτοῦ τὰ ἀγαθά.
There is nothing remaining of his provisions; Therefore his goods shall not flourish.
22
בִּמְלֹאות שִׂפְקוֹ יֵצֶר לוֹ כָּל־יַד עָמֵל תְּבוֹאֶנּוּ
In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits; the hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon him.
Ὅταν δὲ δοκῇ ἤδη πεπληρῶσθαι, θλιβήσεται, πᾶσα δὲ ἀνάγκη ἐπʼ αὐτὸν ἐπελεύσεται.
But when he shall seem to be just satisfied, he shall be straitened; And all distress shall come upon him.
23
יְהִי לְמַלֵּא בִטְנוֹ יְשַׁלַּח־בּוֹ חֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ וְיַמְטֵר עָלֵימוֹ בִּלְחוּמוֹ
It shall be for the filling of his belly; He shall cast the fierceness of His wrath upon him, and shall cause it to rain upon him into his flesh.
Εἴ πῶς εἶ πληρῶσαι γαστέρα αὐτοῦ, ἐπαποστείλαι ἐπʼ αὐτὸν θυμὸν ὀργῆς, νίψαι ἐπʼ αὐτὸν ὀδύνας,
If by any means he would fill his belly, Let [God] send upon him the fury of wrath; Let him bring a torrent of pains upon him.
24
יִבְרַח מִנֵּשֶׁק בַּרְזֶל תַּחְלְפֵהוּ קֶשֶׁת נְחוּשָׁה
If he flee from the iron weapon, the bow of brass shall strike him through.
καὶ οὐ μὴ σωθῇ ἐκ χειρὸς σιδήρου· τρώσαι αὐτὸν τόξον χάλκειον.
And he shall by no means escape from the power of the sword; Let the brazen bow wound him.
25
שָׁלַף וַיֵּצֵא מִגֵּוָה וּבָרָק מִמְּרֹרָתוֹ יַהֲלֹךְ עָלָיו אֵמִים
He draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body; yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall; terrors are upon him.
Διεξέλθοι δὲ διὰ σώματος αὐτοῦ βέλος, ἄστρα δὲ ἐν διαίταις αὐτοῦ· περιπατήσαισαν ἐπʼ αὐτῷ φόβοι,
And let the arrow pierce through his body; And let the stars be against his dwelling place: Let terrors come upon him.
26
כָּל־חֹשֶׁךְ טָמוּן לִצְפּוּנָיו תְּאָכְלֵהוּ אֵשׁ לֹא־נֻפָּח יֵרַע שָׂרִיד בְּאָהֳלוֹ
All darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not blown by man shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tent.
πᾶν δὲ σκότος αὐτῷ ὑπομείναι· κατέδεται αὐτὸν πῦρ ἄκαυστον, κακώσαι δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐπήλυτος τὸν οἶκον.
And let all darkness wait for him: A fire that burns not out shall consume him; And let a stranger plague his house.
27
יְגַלּוּ שָׁמַיִם עֲוֺנוֹ וְאֶרֶץ מִתְקוֹמָמָה לוֹ
The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.
Ἀνακάλυψαι δὲ αὐτοῦ ὁ οὐρανὸς τὰς ἀνομίας, γῆ δὲ ἐπανασταίη αὐτῷ.
And let the heaven reveal his iniquities, And the earth rise up against him.
28
יִגֶל יְבוּל בֵּיתוֹ נִגָּרוֹת בְּיוֹם אַפּוֹ
The increase of his house shall depart, his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.
Ἑλκύσαι τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ ἀπώλεια εἰς τέλος, ἡμέρα ὀργῆς ἐπέλθοι αὐτῷ.
Let destruction bring his house to an end; Let a day of wrath come upon him.
29
זֶה חֵלֶק־אָדָם רָשָׁע מֵאֱלֹהִים וְנַחֲלַת אִמְרוֹ מֵאֵל
This is the portion of a wicked man from G-d, and the heritage appointed unto him by G-d.
Αὕτη ἡ μέρις ἀνθρώπου ἀσεβοῦς παρὰ Κυρίου, καὶ κτῆμα ὑπαρχόντων αὐτῷ παρὰ τοῦ ἐπισκόπου.
This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, And the possession of his goods [appointed him] by the all-seeing [God].