1 T hen Zophar the Naamathite answered,

And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

2 T herefore do my thoughts give me an answer, and I make haste for this reason.

Therefore do my thoughts give me an answer, and for this is my haste within me.

3 I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame, but out of my understanding my spirit answers me.

I hear a reproof putting me to shame; and spirit answereth me by mine understanding.

4 D o you not know from of old, since the time that man was placed on the earth,

Knowest thou this, that of old, since man was placed upon earth,

5 T hat the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless and defiled is but for a moment?

The exultation of the wicked is short, and the joy of the ungodly man but for a moment?

6 T hough his height mounts up to the heavens and his head reaches to the clouds,

Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds,

7 Y et he will perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, Where is he?

Like his own dung doth he perish for ever; they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

8 H e will fly away like a dream and will not be found; yes, he will be chased away as a vision of the night.

He flieth away as a dream, and is not found; and is chased away as a vision of the night.

9 T he eye which saw him will see him no more, neither will his place any more behold him.

The eye which saw him shall not again; and his place beholdeth him no more.

10 T he poor will oppress his children, and his hands will give back his wealth.

His children shall seek the favour of the poor, and his hands restore his wealth.

11 H is bones are full of youthful energy, but it will lie down with him in the dust.

His bones were full of his youthful strength; but it shall lie down with him in the dust.

12 T hough wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue,

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

13 T hough he is loath to let it go but keeps it still within his mouth,

he spare it, and forsake it not, but keep it within his mouth,

14 Y et his food turns in his stomach; it is the venom of asps within him.

His food is turned in his bowels; it is the gall of asps within him.

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

He hath swallowed down riches, but he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

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

He shall suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue shall kill him.

17 H e shall not look upon the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.

He shall not see streams, rivers, brooks of honey and butter.

18 T hat which he labored for shall he give back and shall not swallow it down; according to his wealth shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice in it.

That which he laboured for shall he restore, and not swallow down; its restitution shall be according to the value, and he shall not rejoice.

19 F or he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has violently taken away a house which he did not build.

For he hath oppressed, hath forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away a house that he did not build.

20 B ecause his desire and greed knew no quietness within him, he will not save anything of that in which he delights.

Because he knew no rest in his craving, he shall save nought of what he most desired.

21 T here was nothing left that he did not devour; therefore his prosperity will not endure.

Nothing escaped his greediness; therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

22 I n the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be poor and in straits; every hand of everyone who is in misery shall come upon him.

In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits; every hand of the wretched shall come upon him.

23 W hen he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of His wrath upon him and will rain it upon him while he is eating.

It shall be that, to fill his belly, he will cast his fierce anger upon him, and will rain it upon him into his flesh.

24 H e will flee from the iron weapon, but the bow of bronze shall strike him through.

If he have fled from the iron weapon, the bow of brass shall strike him through.

25 i s drawn forth and it comes out after passing through his body; yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors march in upon him;

He draweth it forth; it cometh out of his body, and the glittering point out of his gall: terrors are upon him.

26 E very misfortune is laid up for his treasures. A fire not blown by man shall devour him; it shall consume what is left in his tent.

All darkness is laid up for his treasures: a fire not blown shall devour him; it shall feed upon what is left in his tent.

27 T he heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.

The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.

28 T he produce and increase of his house will go into exile, dragged away in the day of wrath.

The increase of his house shall depart, flowing away in the day of his anger.

29 T his is the wicked man’s portion from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God.

This is the portion of the wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God.