1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2 Therefore, my disquieting thoughts compel me to respond, and because of my agitation within me,

Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.

3 I hear a rebuke that dishonors me, and my understanding prompts me to reply.

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

4 Do you not know this from ancient times, since man was placed on the earth,

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

5 that the triumph of the wicked is short-lived, and the joy of the godless lasts only a moment?

That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

6 Even if his greatness rises to the heavens and his head reaches to the clouds,

Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

7 he will perish 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 Like a dream he flies away and is no more; he is chased away like a vision 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 The eye that saw him will see him no longer, and his place will behold him no more.

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

10 His children will seek the favor of the poor, and his hands will return his wealth.

His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.

11 The youthful vigor that filled his bones 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 Though evil tastes sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue,

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

13 though he cherishes it and does not let it go, but keeps it in the midst of his mouth,

Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:

14 yet his food in his stomach is turned to the venom of cobras within him.

Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.

15 He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God drives it 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 He will suck the venom of cobras; the tongue of a viper will kill him.

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

17 He will not see the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and butter.

He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.

18 He will give back the fruit of his labor but will not swallow it; like the wealth of his trade, he will not enjoy it.

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 For he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house he did not build.

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

20 Because he knew no peace in his heart, he will not retain any of his treasures.

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

21 Nothing is left for him to consume; therefore, his prosperity will not last.

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

22 In the fullness of his plenty, he will be distressed; the hand of all who toil will come upon him.

In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.

23 When he is about to fill his stomach, God will unleash his burning anger against him and rain it upon him while he eats.

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 Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze arrow will pierce him.

He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.

25 It is drawn out and comes forth from his body; the glittering point comes out of his gallbladder; terrors come over him.

It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.

26 Total darkness is hidden for his treasures; a fire not kindled by man will consume him and devour what remains 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 The heavens will expose his guilt, and the earth will rise up against him.

The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.

28 The produce of his house will be carried away, flowing away on the day of God's wrath.

The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the inheritance decreed for him by the Almighty.

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