1 T hen Zophar the Naamathite answered,

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

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

Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.

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

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

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

Knowest thou not this 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?

That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

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

Though his excellency 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?

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: 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 shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be 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 also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

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

His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.

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

His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which 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, though he hide it under his tongue;

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

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

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

Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, 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, and 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 slay him.

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

He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the 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 shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.

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

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

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

Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.

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

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

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 wicked 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.

When 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.

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

He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel 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;

It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh 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 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.

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

The heaven 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, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

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

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