1 T hen Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

2 “ Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer, Because of the turmoil within me.

“Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me respond, Even because of my inward agitation.

3 I have heard the rebuke that reproaches me, And the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer.

“I listened to the reproof which insults me, And the spirit of my understanding makes me answer.

4 “ Do you not know this of old, Since man was placed on earth,

“Do you know this from of old, From the establishment of man on earth,

5 T hat the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment?

That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless momentary?

6 T hough his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens, And his head reaches to the clouds,

“Though his loftiness reaches the heavens, And his head touches the clouds,

7 Y et he will perish forever like his own refuse; Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’

He perishes forever like his refuse; Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’

8 H e will fly away like a dream, and not be found; Yes, he will be chased away like a vision of the night.

“He flies away like a dream, and they cannot find him; Even like a vision of the night he is chased away.

9 T he eye that saw him will see him no more, Nor will his place behold him anymore.

“The eye which saw him sees him no longer, And his place no longer beholds him.

10 H is children will seek the favor of the poor, And his hands will restore his wealth.

“His sons favor the poor, And his hands give back his wealth.

11 H is bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it will lie down with him in the dust.

“His bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it lies down with him in the dust.

12 “ Though evil is sweet in his mouth, And he hides it under his tongue,

“Though evil is sweet in his mouth And he hides it under his tongue,

13 T hough he spares it and does not forsake it, But still keeps it in his mouth,

Though he desires it and will not let it go, But holds it in his mouth,

14 Y et his food in his stomach turns sour; It becomes cobra venom within him.

Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the venom of cobras within him.

15 H e swallows down riches And vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly.

“He swallows riches, But will vomit them up; God will expel them from his belly.

16 H e will suck the poison of cobras; The viper’s tongue will slay him.

“He sucks the poison of cobras; The viper’s tongue slays him.

17 H e will not see the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and cream.

“He does not look at the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and curds.

18 H e will restore that for which he labored, And will not swallow it down; From the proceeds of business He will get no enjoyment.

“He returns what he has attained And cannot swallow it; As to the riches of his trading, He cannot even enjoy them.

19 F or he has oppressed and forsaken the poor, He has violently seized a house which he did not build.

“For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built.

20 “ Because he knows no quietness in his heart, He will not save anything he desires.

“Because he knew no quiet within him, He does not retain anything he desires.

21 N othing is left for him to eat; Therefore his well-being will not last.

“Nothing remains for him to devour, Therefore his prosperity does not endure.

22 I n his self-sufficiency he will be in distress; Every hand of misery will come against him.

“In the fullness of his plenty he will be cramped; The hand of everyone who suffers will come against him.

23 W hen he is about to fill his stomach, God will cast on him the fury of His wrath, And will rain it on him while he is eating.

“When he fills his belly, God will send His fierce anger on him And will rain it on him while he is eating.

24 H e will flee from the iron weapon; A bronze bow will pierce him through.

“He may flee from the iron weapon, But the bronze bow will pierce him.

25 I t is drawn, and comes out of the body; Yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors come upon him;

“It is drawn forth and comes out of his back, Even the glittering point from his gall. Terrors come upon him,

26 T otal darkness is reserved for his treasures. An unfanned fire will consume him; It shall go ill with him who is left in his tent.

Complete darkness is held in reserve for his treasures, And unfanned fire will devour him; It will consume the survivor in his tent.

27 T he heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him.

“The heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him.

28 T he increase of his house will depart, And his goods will flow away in the day of His wrath.

“The increase of his house will depart; His possessions will flow away in the day of His anger.

29 T his is the portion from God for a wicked man, The heritage appointed to him by God.”

“This is the wicked man’s portion from God, Even the heritage decreed to him by God.”