1 T hen answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

2 T herefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.

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

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

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

4 K nowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

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

5 t hat the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

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

6 T hough his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

Even if his pride is as high as the heavens and his head touches the clouds,

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

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

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

He will fly away like a dream, and not be found. He will be driven away like a dream of the night.

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

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

10 H is children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.

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

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

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

12 T hough wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;

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

13 t hough he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:

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

14 y et his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.

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

15 H e hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

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

16 H e shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.

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

17 H e shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.

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

18 T hat which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.

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 B ecause he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;

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

20 s urely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.

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

21 T here shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.

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

22 I n the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.

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

23 W hen 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.

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

24 H e shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.

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

25 I t is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.

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 A ll 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.

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

The heavens will make his sin known, and the earth will rise up against him.

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

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

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

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