1 T hen Zophar the Naamathite answered,

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

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

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

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

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

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

“Do you not know this of old, Since man was placed on 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 is but for a moment?

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

Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens, And his head reaches to 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 will perish forever like his own refuse; Those who have seen him will 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 will fly away like a dream, and not be found; Yes, he will be chased away like 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 that saw him will see him no more, Nor will his place behold him anymore.

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

His children will seek the favor of the poor, And his hands will restore 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 youthful vigor, But it will lie down with him in the dust.

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

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

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

Though he spares it and does not forsake it, But still keeps it in his mouth,

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

Yet his food in his stomach turns sour; It becomes cobra venom within him.

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

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

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

He will suck the poison of cobras; The viper’s tongue will slay him.

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

He will not see the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and cream.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Nothing is left for him to eat; Therefore his well-being will not last.

22 E ven when he has many riches, he will have trouble. Everyone who suffers will come against him.

In his self-sufficiency he will be in distress; Every hand of misery will come against 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 stomach, God will cast on him the fury of His wrath, And will rain it on 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 will flee from the iron weapon; A bronze bow will pierce 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 comes out of the body; Yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors come 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.

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

27 T he heavens will make his sin known, 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 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 will depart, And his goods will 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 from God for a wicked man, The heritage appointed to him by God.”