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 cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.

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

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

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

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

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

Though his excellency 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 which 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 also 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 to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.

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 the sin of his youth, which 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 forsake it not; 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 meat 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 shall 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 see the rivers, the floods, the brooks 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 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 F or he has taken from the poor and left them with nothing. He has taken houses which he has not built.

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

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

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

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

There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.

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: every hand of the wicked 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 shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall 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 steel 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.

It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword 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 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 will make his sin known, and the earth will rise up against him.

The heaven 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, and 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.