| 1 | Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, |
| 2 | "Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of my haste that is in me. |
| 3 | I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame. The spirit of my understanding answers me. |
| 4 | Don't you know this from old time, since man was placed on earth, |
| 5 | that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment? |
| 6 | Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds, |
| 7 | yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him shall say, 'Where is he?' |
| 8 | He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found. Yes, he shall be chased away like a vision of the night. |
| 9 | The eye which saw him shall see him no more, neither shall his place any more see him. |
| 10 | His children shall seek the favor of the poor. His hands shall give back his wealth. |
| 11 | His bones are full of his youth, but youth shall lie down with him in the dust. |
| 12 | "Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue, |
| 13 | though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth; |
| 14 | yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him. |
| 15 | He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly. |
| 16 | He shall suck cobra venom. The viper's tongue shall kill him. |
| 17 | He shall not look at the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter. |
| 18 | That 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. |
| 19 | For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up. |
| 20 | "Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save anything of that in which he delights. |
| 21 | There was nothing left that he didn't devour, therefore his prosperity shall not endure. |
| 22 | In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress shall overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come on him. |
| 23 | When 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. |
| 24 | He shall flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow shall strike him through. |
| 25 | He draws it forth, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on him. |
| 26 | All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent. |
| 27 | The heavens shall reveal his iniquity. The earth shall rise up against him. |
| 28 | The increase of his house shall depart. They shall rush away in the day of his wrath. |
| 29 | This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the heritage appointed to him by God." |
