1 T hen Zophar the Naamathite answered,

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2 “ My troubled thoughts make me answer, because I have no rest inside.

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

3 I heard the strong words that take away my honor. The spirit of my understanding makes me answer.

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

4 D o you not know from long ago, since man was put on earth,

Knowest thou not this of old time, Since man was placed upon earth,

5 t hat the honor of the sinful is short, and the joy of the sinful lasts only a short time?

That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless but for a moment?

6 E ven if his pride is as high as the heavens and his head touches the clouds,

Though his height mount up to the heavens, And his head reach unto the clouds;

7 h e will be gone forever, like his own waste. Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: They that have seen him shall say, Where is he?

8 H e will fly away like a dream, and not be found. He will be driven away like a dream 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 will see him no more. His place will no longer see him.

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

10 H is sons will look for the favor of the poor. And his hands will give back his riches.

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 strength of the young, but it will lie down with him in the dust.

His bones are full of his youth, But it shall lie down with him in the dust.

12 “ Sin is sweet in his mouth. He hides it under his tongue.

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

13 H e hates to let it go, and holds it in his mouth.

Though he spare it, and will not let it go, But keep it still within his mouth;

14 Y et his food in his stomach is changed to the poison of snakes inside him.

Yet his food in his bowels is turned, It is the gall of asps within him.

15 H e eats riches, but will spit them up. God will take them out of his stomach.

He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again; God will cast them out of his belly.

16 H e will drink the poison of snakes. The snake’s tongue will kill him.

He shall suck the poison of asps: The viper's tongue shall slay him.

17 H e will not look at the rivers, the rivers flowing with honey and milk.

He shall not look upon the rivers, The flowing streams of honey and butter.

18 H e must return what he has worked for, and can not eat it. He will not have joy from the riches of his trading.

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 F or he has taken from the poor and left them with nothing. He has taken houses which he has not built.

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

20 “ Because he thought he never had enough, he has nothing that gives him joy.

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

21 T here was nothing more for him to get, so his having everything will not last.

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

22 E ven when he has many riches, he will have trouble. Everyone who suffers will come against 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 W hen he fills his stomach, God will send His great anger on him. He will send it on 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 may get away from the iron sword, but the brass bow will shoot an arrow in him.

He shall flee from the iron weapon, And the bow of brass shall strike him through.

25 I t cuts through his body and comes out of his back. The shining arrow comes out of his liver. Much fear comes 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 C omplete darkness is stored up for his riches. A fire not kept going by man will burn him up. It will destroy all that is left 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 will make his sin known, and the earth will rise up against him.

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

28 T he things of his house will be carried away. They will be taken away in the day of God’s anger.

The increase of his house shall depart; His goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

29 T his is what God has for sinful men. It is what God chooses to give to them.”

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