¹

Then Sophar the Minæan answered and said,

¹

ΥΠΟΛΑΒΩΝ δὲ Σωφὰρ ὁ Μιναῖος λέγει·

²

I did not suppose that thou wouldest answer thus: neither do ye understand more than I.

²

οὐχ οὕτως ὑπελάμβανον ἀντερεῖν σε ταῦτα, καὶ οὐχὶ συνίετε μᾶλλον ἢ καὶ ἐγώ.

³

I will hear my shameful reproach; and the spirit of my understanding answers me.

³

παιδείαν ἐντροπῆς μου ἀκούσομαι, καὶ πνεῦμα ἐκ τῆς συνέσεως ἀποκρίνεταί μοι.

⁴

Hast thou not known these things of old, from the time that man was set upon the earth?

⁴

μὴ ταῦτα ἔγνως ἀπὸ τοῦ ἔτι, ἀφ᾿ οὗ ἐτέθη ἄνθρωπος ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς;

⁵

But the mirth of the ungodly is a signal downfall, and the joy of transgressors is destruction:

⁵

εὐφροσύνη γὰρ ἀσεβῶν πτῶμα ἐξαίσιον, χαρμονὴ δὲ παρανόμων ἀπώλεια,

⁶

although his gifts should go up to heaven, and his sacrifice reach the clouds.

⁶

ἐὰν ἀναβῇ εἰς οὐρανὸν αὐτοῦ τὰ δῶρα, ἡ δὲ θυσία αὐτοῦ νεφῶν ἅψηται·

⁷

For when he shall seem to be now established, then he shall utterly perish: and they that knew him shall say, Where is he?

⁷

ὅταν γὰρ δοκῇ ἤδη κατεστηρίχθαι, τότε εἰς τέλος ἀπολεῖται· οἱ δὲ εἰδότες αὐτὸν ἐροῦσι· ποῦ ἐστιν;

⁸

Like a dream that has fled away, he shall not be found; and he has fled like a vision of the night.

⁸

ὥσπερ ἐνύπνιον ἐκπετασθὲν οὐ μὴ εὑρεθῇ, ἔπτη δὲ ὥσπερ φάσμα νυκτερινόν.

⁹

The eye has looked upon him, but shall not see him again; and his place shall no longer perceive him.

⁹

ὀφθαλμὸς παρέβλεψε καὶ οὐ προσθήσει, καὶ οὐκέτι προσνοήσει αὐτὸν ὁ τόπος αὐτοῦ.

¹⁰

Let his inferiors destroy his children, and let his hands kindle the fire of sorrow.

¹⁰

τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ ὀλέσαισαν ἥττονες, αἱ δὲ χεῖρες αὐτοῦ πυρσεύσαισαν ὀδύνας.

¹¹

His bones have been filled with vigour of his youth, and it shall lie down with him in the dust.

¹¹

ὀστᾶ αὐτοῦ ἐνεπλήσθησαν νεότητος αὐτοῦ, καὶ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ χώματος κοιμηθήσεται.

¹²

Though evil be sweet in his mouth, though he will hide it under his tongue;

¹²

ἐὰν γλυκανθῇ ἐν στόματι αὐτοῦ κακία, κρύψει αὐτὴν ὑπὸ τὴν γλῶσσαν αὐτοῦ·

¹³

though he will not spare it, and will not leave it, but will keep it in the midst of his throat:

¹³

οὐ φείσεται αὐτῆς καὶ οὐκ ἐγκαταλείψει αὐτὴν καὶ συνάξει αὐτὴν ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ λάρυγγος αὐτοῦ,

¹⁴

yet he shall not at all be able to help himself; the gall of an asp is in his belly.

¹⁴

καὶ οὐ μὴ δυνηθῇ βοηθῆσαι ἑαυτῷ· χολὴ ἀσπίδος ἐν γαστρὶ αὐτοῦ.

¹⁵

His wealth unjustly collected shall be vomited up; a messenger of wrath shall drag him out of his house.

¹⁵

πλοῦτος ἀδίκως συναγόμενος ἐξεμεθήσεται, ἐξ οἰκίας αὐτοῦ ἐξελκύσει αὐτὸν ἄγγελος,

¹⁶

And let him suck the poison of serpents, and let the serpent's tongue slay him.

¹⁶

θυμὸν δὲ δρακόντων θηλάσειεν, ἀνέλοι δὲ αὐτὸν γλῶσσα ὄφεως.

¹⁷

Let him not see the milk of the pastures, nor the supplies of honey and butter.

¹⁷

μὴ ἴδοι ἄμελξιν νομάδων, μηδὲ νομὰς μέλιτος καὶ βουτύρου.

¹⁸

He has laboured 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.

¹⁸

εἰς κενὰ καὶ μάταια ἐκοπίασε, πλοῦτον ἐξ οὗ οὐ γεύσεται, ὥσπερ στρίφνος ἀμάσητος, ἀκατάποτος·

¹⁹

For he has broken down the houses of many mighty men: and he has plundered an habitation, though he built it not.

¹⁹

πολλῶν γὰρ δυνατῶν οἴκους ἔθλασε, δίαιταν δὲ ἥρπασε, καὶ οὐκ ἔστησεν.

²⁰

There is no security to his possessions; he shall not be saved by his desire.

²⁰

οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῦ σωτηρία τοῖς ὑπάρχουσιν, ἐν ἐπιθυμίᾳ αὐτοῦ οὐ σωθήσεται.

²¹

There is nothing remaining of his provisions; therefore his goods shall not flourish.

²¹

οὐκ ἔστιν ὑπόλειμμα τοῖς βρώμασιν αὐτοῦ, διὰ τοῦτο οὐκ ἀνθήσει αὐτοῦ τὰ ἀγαθά.

²²

But when he shall seem to be just satisfied, he shall be straitened; and all distress shall come upon him.

²²

ὅταν δὲ δοκῇ ἤδη πεπληρῶσθαι, θλιβήσεται, πᾶσα δὲ ἀνάγκη ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν ἐπελεύσεται.

²³

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.

²³

εἴ πως πληρῶσαι γαστέρα αὐτοῦ, ἐπαποστεῖλαι ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν θυμὸν ὀργῆς, νίψαι ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν ὀδύνας·

²⁴

And he shall by no means escape from the power of the sword; let the brazen bow wound him.

²⁴

καὶ οὐ μὴ σωθῇ ἐκ χειρὸς σιδήρου, τρώσαι αὐτὸν τόξον χάλκειον·

²⁵

And let the arrow pierce through his body; and let the stars be against his dwelling-place: let terrors come upon him.

²⁵

διεξέλθοι δὲ διὰ σώματος αὐτοῦ βέλος, ἀστραπαὶ δὲ ἐν διαίταις αὐτοῦ· περιπατήσαισαν ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ φόβοι,

²⁶

And let all darkness wait for him: a fire that burns not out shall consume him; and let a stranger plague his house.

²⁶

πᾶν δὲ σκότος αὐτῷ ὑπομείναι· κατέδεται αὐτὸν πῦρ ἄκαυστον, κακώσαι δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐπήλυτος τὸν οἶκον.

²⁷

And let the heaven reveal his iniquities, and the earth rise up against him.

²⁷

ἀνακαλύψαι δὲ αὐτοῦ ὁ οὐρανὸς τὰς ἀνομίας, γῆ δὲ ἐπανασταίη αὐτῷ.

²⁸

Let destruction bring his house to an end; let a day of wrath come upon him.

²⁸

ἑλκύσαι τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ ἀπώλεια εἰς τέλος, ἡμέρα ὀργῆς ἐπέλθοι αὐτῷ.

²⁹

This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of his goods appointed him by the all-seeing God.

²⁹

αὕτη ἡ μερὶς ἀνθρώπου ἀσεβοῦς παρὰ Κυρίου, καὶ κτῆμα ὑπαρχόντων αὐτῷ παρὰ τοῦ ἐπισκόπου.