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 give answer to me, Even by reason of my haste that is in me.

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

I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame; And the spirit of my understanding answereth me.

4 D ost thou not know this that always was, since man was placed upon earth,

Knowest thou not this of old time, 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 godless but for a moment?

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

Though his height 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 that 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 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 the favor of the poor, And his hands shall give back his wealth.

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 his youth, But it 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 will not let it go, 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 food 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 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 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 look upon the rivers, The flowing streams 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 labored for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down; According to the substance that he hath gotten, he shall not rejoice.

19 B ecause he oppressed and forsook the poor; because he has violently taken away houses which he did not build,

For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; He hath violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.

20 t herefore, he shall not feel quietness in his belly; he shall not escape with that which he desired.

Because he knew no quietness within him, He shall not save aught of that wherein he delighteth.

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

There was nothing left that he devoured not; Therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

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: The hand of every one that is in misery 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 will cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, And will 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 brass 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.

He draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body; Yea, the glittering point 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 is laid up for his treasures: A fire not blown by man 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, 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; 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.