1 T hen Zophar the Naamathite answered,

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

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

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

3 I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame. The spirit of my understanding answers me.

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

4 D on’t you know this from old time, 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, the joy of the godless but for a moment?

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

6 T hough his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,

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

7 y et he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him shall say, ‘Where is he?’

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

8 H e shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found. Yes, he shall 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 which saw him shall see him no more, neither shall his place any more see him.

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

10 H is children shall seek the favor of the poor. His hands shall give back his wealth.

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

11 H is bones are full of his youth, but youth shall 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 wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,

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

13 t hough he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within 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 bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him.

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

15 H e has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.

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

16 H e shall suck cobra venom. The viper’s tongue shall kill him.

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

17 H e shall not look at the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.

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

18 T hat for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.

“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 taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.

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

20 “ Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save anything of that in which he delights.

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

21 T here was nothing left that he didn’t devour, therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

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

22 I n the fullness of his sufficiency, distress shall overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come on 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 belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain 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 shall flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow shall strike him through.

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

25 H e draws it out, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on him.

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

26 A ll darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire shall devour him. It shall consume that which 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 shall reveal his iniquity. The earth shall 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 shall depart. They shall rush 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 of a wicked man from God, the heritage appointed to him by God.”

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