1 T hen answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

2 T herefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.

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

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

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

4 K nowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

Do you not know from of old, since the time that man was placed on the 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 and defiled is but for a moment?

6 T hough his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

Though his height mounts up to the heavens and his head reaches to the clouds,

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

Yet he will perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, Where is he?

8 H e shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

He will fly away like a dream and will not be found; yes, he will be chased away as a vision of the night.

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

The eye which saw him will see him no more, neither will his place any more behold him.

10 H is children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.

The poor will oppress his children, and his hands will give back his wealth.

11 H is bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.

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

12 T hough wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;

Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue,

13 T hough he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:

Though he is loath to let it go but keeps it still within his mouth,

14 Y et his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.

Yet his food turns in his stomach; it is the venom of asps within him.

15 H e hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall 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 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 T hat 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.

That 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.

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

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

20 S urely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.

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

21 T here shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.

There was nothing left that he did not devour; therefore his prosperity will not endure.

22 I n the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.

In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be poor and in straits; every hand of everyone who is in misery shall come upon him.

23 W hen 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.

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 iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.

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

25 I t is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.

is 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;

26 A ll 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.

Every 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.

27 T he heaven 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 depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

The produce and increase of his house will go into exile, dragged away in the day of wrath.

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

This is the wicked man’s portion from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God.