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.

“Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.

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

I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame. The spirit of my understanding answers me.

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

Don’t you know this from old time, since man was placed 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 triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless 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 to 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 forever like his own dung. Those who 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. Yes, he shall be chased away like 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 see him no more, neither shall his place any more see him.

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

His children shall seek the favor of the poor. His hands shall give back his wealth.

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

His bones are full of his youth, but youth 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 is 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 will not let it go, 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 food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom 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 has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will 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 cobra venom. 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 look at the rivers, the flowing streams 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 for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, 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 has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.

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 quietness within him, he shall not save anything of that in which he delights.

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

There was nothing left that he didn’t devour, 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 fullness of his sufficiency, distress shall overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come on 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 will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain 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 shall flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow 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 draws it out, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on 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. An unfanned fire shall devour him. It shall consume that which 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. 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. They shall rush 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, the heritage appointed to him by God.”