Sophar on the Wicked's Brief Joy

Job 20

Sophar speaks a second time, describing how the joy of the ungodly is fleeting, vanishing like a dream even as it seems most secure. He details how the wicked man's ill-gotten wealth will be vomited up and disaster from the Lord will overtake his house, calling this the ungodly man's appointed portion.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonTHEN answered Sophar the Minaian and said:

BrentonThen Sophar the Minæan answered and said,

GreekὙπολαβὼν δὲ Σωφὰρ ὁ Μιναῖος, λέγει,

KJVThen answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

JPSThen answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:

ThomsonI did not suppose that thou wouldst return such an answer, nor do you understand more than I.

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

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

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonI hear this disgraceful rebuke and my spirit of understanding answers me.

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

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

KJVI have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.

JPSI have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame, But out of my understanding my spirit answereth me.

ThomsonThou hast never known such things heretofore, from the time man was placed on the earth!

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

GreekΜὴ ταῦτα ἔγνως ἀπὸ τοῦ ἔτι, ἀφʼ οὗ ἐτέθη ἄνθρωπος ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς;

KJVKnowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

JPSKnowest thou not this of old time, Since man was placed upon earth,

Thomson’But the mirth of the wicked is sudden ruin, and the joy of transgressors, destruction,

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

GreekΕὐφροσύνη δὲ ἀσεβῶν πτῶμα ἐξαίσιον, χαρμονὴ δὲ παρανόμων ἀπώλεια·

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonthough his gifts mount up to heaven, and his sacrifice reach the clouds.

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

Greekἐὰν ἀναβῇ εἰς οὐρανὸν αὐτοῦ τὰ δῶρα, ἡ δὲ θυσία αὐτοῦ νεφῶν ἅψηται.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonFor when he thinketh that he is now firmly established, then shall he be utterly destroyed; and they who have seen him will say, Where is he?

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

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

KJVYet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

JPSYet he shall perish for ever like his own dung; They that have seen him shall say: ‘Where is he?’

ThomsonLike a dream which is gone, he cannot be found. He is vanished, like a spectre in the night.

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

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

KJVHe shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

JPSHe shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found; Yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

ThomsonThe eye which saw him, shall see him no more; and his place shall no more observe.

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

GreekὈφθαλμὸς παρέβλεψε, καὶ οὐ προσθήσει, καὶ οὐκ ἔτι προσνοήσει αὐτὸν ὁ τόπος αὐτοῦ.

KJVThe eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

JPSThe eye which saw him shall see him no more; Neither shall his place any more behold him.

ThomsonLet minors destroy his children, and his own hands light up the signals of distress.

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

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

KJV—

JPSHis children shall appease the poor, And his hands shall restore his wealth.

Thomson—

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

GreekὈστᾶ αὐτοῦ ἐνεπλήσθησαν νεότητος αὐτοῦ, καὶ μετʼ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ χώματος κοιμηθήσεται.

KJVHis bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.

JPSHis bones are full of his youth, But it shall lie down with him in the dust.

ThomsonIf wickedness be sweet in his mouth, he will hide it under his tongue.

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

GreekἘὰν γλυκανθῇ ἐν στόματι αὐτοῦ κακία, κρύψει αὐτὴν ὑπὸ τὴν γλῶσσαν αὐτοῦ,

KJVThough wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;

JPSThough wickedness be sweet in his mouth, Though he hide it under his tongue;

Thomson—

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

Greekοὐ φείσεται αὐτῆς, καὶ οὐκ ἐγκαταλείψει αὐτήν· καὶ συνάξει αὐτὴν ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ λάρυγγος αὐτοῦ,

KJVThough he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:

JPSThough he spare it, and will not let it go, But keep it still within his mouth;

ThomsonThe poison of an asp is in his belly.

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

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

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonRiches collected unrighteously shall be vomited up. Out of his house let an angel drag him.

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

GreekΠλοῦτος ἀδίκως συναγόμενος ἐξεμεθήσεται, ἐξ οἰκίας αὐτοῦ ἐξελκύσει αὐτὸν ἄγγελος.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonMay he suck the venom of dragons! and may the tongue of the viper slay him!

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

GreekΘυμὸν δὲ δρακόντων θηλάσειεν, ἀνέλοι δὲ αὐτὸν γλῶσσα ὄφεως.

KJVHe shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.

JPSHe shall suck the poison of asps; The viper’s tongue shall slay him.

Thomsonmay he never see the milking of his kine, nor the distribution of his honey and butter!

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

GreekΜὴ ἴδοι ἄμελξιν νομάδων, μηδὲ νομὰς μέλιτος καὶ βουτύρου.

KJVHe shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonHe 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.

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

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

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

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

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonThere is no security for his possessions; nor shall he be saved by what he valueth highly.

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

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

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

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

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

KJVThere shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.

JPSThere was nothing left that he devoured not— Therefore his prosperity shall not endure. .

ThomsonIn the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be afflicted, and all manner of distress shall come upon him.

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

GreekὍταν δὲ δοκῇ ἤδη πεπληρῶσθαι, θλιβήσεται, πᾶσα δὲ ἀνάγκη ἐπʼ αὐτὸν ἐπελεύσεται.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonIf by any means he be permitted to fill his belly; may He send against him fiery indignation, and pour upon him sorrows!

BrentonIf 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.

GreekΕἴ πῶς εἶ πληρῶσαι γαστέρα αὐτοῦ, ἐπαποστείλαι ἐπʼ αὐτὸν θυμὸν ὀργῆς, νίψαι ἐπʼ αὐτὸν ὀδύνας,

KJVWhen he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.

JPSIt 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.

ThomsonLet him not escape from the edge of the sword!

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

Greekκαὶ οὐ μὴ σωθῇ ἐκ χειρὸς σιδήρου· τρώσαι αὐτὸν τόξον χάλκειον.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

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

GreekΔιεξέλθοι δὲ διὰ σώματος αὐτοῦ βέλος, ἄστρα δὲ ἐν διαίταις αὐτοῦ· περιπατήσαισαν ἐπʼ αὐτῷ φόβοι,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

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

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

KJVAll darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.

JPSAll 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.

Thomsonmay the heaven disclose his iniquities, and the earth rise up against him!

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

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

KJVThe heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.

JPSThe heavens shall reveal his iniquity, And the earth shall rise up against him.

ThomsonMay destruction bring his house to an end! Upon him may there come a day of wrath!’

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

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

KJVThe increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

JPSThe increase of his house shall depart, His goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

ThomsonThis is the portion of a wicked man from the Lord, and this his possession from the superintending Being.

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

GreekΑὕτη ἡ μέρις ἀνθρώπου ἀσεβοῦς παρὰ Κυρίου, καὶ κτῆμα ὑπαρχόντων αὐτῷ παρὰ τοῦ ἐπισκόπου.

KJVThis is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.

JPSThis is the portion of a wicked man from God, And the heritage appointed unto him by God.