1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
Because of the turmoil within me.
And the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer.
Since man was placed on earth,
And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment?
And his head reaches to the clouds,
Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
Yes, he will be chased away like a vision of the night.
Nor will his place behold him anymore.
And his hands will restore his wealth.
But it will lie down with him in the dust.
And he hides it under his tongue,
But still keeps it in his [b]mouth,
It becomes cobra venom within him.
And vomits them up again;
God casts them out of his belly.
The viper’s tongue will slay him.
The rivers flowing with honey and cream.
And will not swallow it down;
From the proceeds of business
He will get no enjoyment.
He has violently seized a house which he did not build.
He will not save anything he desires.
Therefore his well-being will not last.
Every hand of [e]misery will come against him.
God will cast on him the fury of His wrath,
And will rain it on him while he is eating.
A bronze bow will pierce him through.
Yes, the glittering point comes out of his [f]gall.
Terrors come upon him;
An unfanned fire will consume him;
It shall go ill with him who is left in his tent.
And the earth will rise up against him.
And his goods will flow away in the day of His wrath.
The heritage appointed to him by God.”
20:1−29 Гл. 20 представляет собой еще одно изложение учения о неизбежной расплате грешников и нечестивых за совершенные злодеяния. В ней Софар излагает истину о нравственном начале, положенном в основу Божиего управления миром. Однако эта истина остается вне данной конкретной ситуации.
20:2 побуждают меня отвечать. Заключительные слова Иова в 19:28−29 не остались незамеченными Софаром.
20:29 Вот удел человеку беззаконному от Бога. То, чему учит Софар, в конце концов произойдет, но, к сожалению, у него не нашлось слов о милосердии Божием. Даже в своей предыдущей речи (11:13−20), в которой он призывал Иова изменить образ жизни, Софар ни разу не упомянул о милосердии. Следуя Софару, благословение Божие можно только заслужить.