1 T hen Zophar the Naamathite answered,

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

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

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

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

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

4 D o you not know from of old, since the time that man was placed on the 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 godless and defiled is 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 height mounts up to the heavens and his head reaches to the clouds,

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

7 Y et he will perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him will 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 will fly away like a dream and will not be found; yes, he will 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 which saw him will see him no more, neither will his place any more behold him.

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

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

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 youthful energy, but it will 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 is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue,

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

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

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

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

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

15 H e has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again; God will 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 look upon the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 will cast the fierceness of His wrath upon him and will 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 will flee from the iron weapon, but the bow of bronze shall strike him through.

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

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 cuts through his body and comes out of his back. The shining arrow comes out of his liver. Much fear comes 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.

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 heavens 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 produce and increase of his house will go into exile, dragged away in the day of 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 wicked man’s portion from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God.

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