1 A nd Zophar the Naamathite answereth and saith: --

2 T herefore my thoughts cause me to answer, And because of my sensations in me.

3 T he chastisement of my shame I hear, And the spirit of mine understanding Doth cause me to answer:

4 T his hast thou known from antiquity? Since the placing of man on earth?

5 T hat the singing of the wicked short, And the joy of the profane for a moment,

6 T hough his excellency go up to the heavens, And his head against a cloud he strike --

7 A s his own dung for ever he doth perish, His beholders say: `Where he?'

8 A s a dream he fleeth, and they find him not, And he is driven away as a vision of the night,

9 T he eye hath not seen him, and addeth not. And not again doth his place behold him.

10 H is sons do the poor oppress, And his hands give back his wealth.

11 H is bones have been full of his youth, And with him on the dust it lieth down.

12 T hough he doth sweeten evil in his mouth, Doth hide it under his tongue,

13 H ath pity on it, and doth not forsake it, And keep it back in the midst of his palate,

14 H is food in his bowels is turned, The bitterness of asps in his heart.

15 W ealth he hath swallowed, and doth vomit it. From his belly God driveth it out.

16 G all of asps he sucketh, Slay him doth the tongue of a viper.

17 H e looketh not on rivulets, Flowing of brooks of honey and butter.

18 H e is giving back he laboured for, And doth not consume; As a bulwark his exchange, and he exults not.

19 F or he oppressed -- he forsook the poor, A house he hath taken violently away, And he doth not build it.

20 F or he hath not known ease in his belly. With his desirable thing he delivereth not himself.

21 T here is not a remnant to his food, Therefore his good doth not stay.

22 I n the fulness of his sufficiency he is straitened. Every perverse hand doth meet him.

23 I t cometh to pass, at the filling of his belly, He sendeth forth against him The fierceness of His anger, Yea, He raineth on him in his eating.

24 H e fleeth from an iron weapon, Pass through him doth a bow of brass.

25 O ne hath drawn, And it cometh out from the body, And a glittering weapon from his gall proceedeth. On him terrors.

26 A ll darkness is hid for his treasures, Consume him doth a fire not blown, Broken is the remnant in his tent.

27 R eveal do the heavens his iniquity, And earth is raising itself against him.

28 R emove doth the increase of his house, Poured forth in a day of His anger.

29 T his the portion of a wicked man from God. And an inheritance appointed him by God.