[1] Then Zophar the Na'amathite answered: [2] "Therefore my thoughts answer
me, because of my haste within me. [3] I hear censure which insults me, and
out of my understanding a spirit answers me. [4] Do you not know this from
of old, since man was placed upon earth, [5] that the exulting of the
wicked is short, and 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]
he will perish for ever like his own dung; those who have seen him will
say, `ose who have seen him will say, "Where is he?' [8] He will fly away
like a dream, and not be found; he will be chased away like a vision of the
night. [9] The eye which saw him will see him no more, nor will his place
any more behold him. [10] His children will seek the favor of the poor, and
his hands will give back his wealth. [11] His bones are full of youthful
vigor, but it will lie down with him in the dust. [12] "Though wickedness
is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue, [13] though he
is loath to let it go, and holds it in his mouth, [14] yet his food is
turned in his stomach; it is the gall of asps within him. [15] He swallows
down riches and vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly. [16]
He will suck the poison of asps; the tongue of a viper will kill him. [17]
He will not look upon the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds.
[18] He will give back the fruit of his toil, and will not swallow it down;
from the profit of his trading he will get no enjoyment. [19] For he has
crushed and abandoned the poor, he has seized a house which he did not
build. [20] "Because his greed knew no rest, he will not save anything in
which he delights. [21] There was nothing left after he had eaten;
therefore his prosperity will not endure. [22] In the fulness of his
sufficiency he will be in straits; all the force of misery will come upon
him. [23] To fill his belly to the full God will send his fierce anger into
him, and rain it upon him as his food. [24] He will flee from an iron
weapon; a bronze arrow will strike him through. [25] It is drawn forth and
comes out of his body, the glittering point comes out of his gall; terrors
come upon him. [26] Utter darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not
blown upon will devour him; what is left in his tent will be consumed. [27]
The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against
him. [28] The possessions of his house will be carried away, dragged off in
the day of God's wrath. [29] This is the wicked man's portion from God, the
heritage decreed for him by God."
