1 ¶ Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered and said,

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2 M y thoughts certainly cause me to answer, and therefore, I make haste.

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

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

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

4 D ost thou not know this that always was, since man was placed upon 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 hypocrite 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 excellency mounts up to the heavens, and his head reaches unto the clouds,

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

7 y et he shall perish for ever like his own dung; those who have seen him shall say, What is become of him?

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

8 H e shall fly away as a dream and shall not be found: yea, he shall flee 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 shall see him no more; neither shall his place behold him any more.

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

10 ¶ His poor sons shall go forth begging, and their hands shall restore that which he stole.

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

11 H is bones are full of the sins of his youth, which shall be buried 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 I f wickedness was sweet in his mouth, if he hid it under his tongue,

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

13 i f it seemed good unto him, and he did not forsake it, but savored it within his mouth,

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

14 h is food shall be changed in his bowels, it shall be the gall 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, but he shall vomit them up again; God shall 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 see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.

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

18 H e shall restore the work that was not his; according to the substance that he took; neither shall he devour, nor rejoice.

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 B ecause he oppressed and forsook the poor; because he has violently taken away houses 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 t herefore, he shall not feel quietness in his belly; he shall not escape with that which he desired.

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

21 N othing is left that he did not eat; therefore, his goods shall not last.

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 come into anguish; the hands of all the wicked 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 ¶ When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him and shall rain it upon him and upon his food.

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 shall flee from the weapons of iron, and 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 H e shall draw forth an arrow from his quiver, and like lightning it shall strike through his gall; terrors shall come 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 A ll darkness is kept for his secrets; a fire not blown shall consume him; his successor shall be broken 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 increase of his house shall be taken captive; they shall be scattered in the day of his 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 portion of a wicked man from God and the heritage that God appoints unto him by his word.

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