Then Zophar the Naamathite
1answered
,
"Therefore my disquieting
thoughts
make me 1respond
, Even because
of my 2inward agitation
.
"I listened to athe reproof
which insults
me, And the spirit
of my understanding
makes me answer
.
"Do you know this
from aof old
, From the establishment
of man
on earth
,
That the atriumphing of the wicked
is short
, And bthe joy
of the godless
momentary
?
"Though his loftiness
1 areaches
the heavens
, And his head
touches
the clouds
,
He aperishes forever
like his refuse
; Those who have seen
him bwill say
, `Where
is he?'
"He flies away
like a adream
, and they cannot
find
him; Even like a vision
of the night
he is bchased
away
.
"The aeye which saw
him sees him no
longer, And bhis place
no
longer
beholds
him.
"His asons 1favor
the poor
, And his hands
bgive
back
his wealth
.
"His abones are full
of his youthful
vigor
, But it lies
down
with him 1in the dust
.
"Though aevil
is sweet
in his mouth
And he hides
it under
his tongue
,
Though he 1desires it and will not let
it go
, But holds
it ain his 2mouth
,
Yet his food in his stomach
is changed
To the 1venom
of cobras
within
him.
"He swallows riches
, But will avomit
them up; God
will expel
them from his belly
.
"He sucks athe poison
of cobras
; The viper's
tongue
slays
him.
"He does not look at athe streams
, The rivers
flowing
with honey
and curds
.
"He areturns what
he has attained
And cannot
swallow
it; As to the riches
of his trading
, He cannot
even enjoy
them.
"For he has aoppressed and forsaken
the poor
; He has seized
a house
which he has not built
.
"Because he knew
no
quiet
1within
him, He does anot retain
anything he desires
.
"Nothing remains
1for him to devour
, Therefore
ahis prosperity
does not endure
.
"In the fullness of his plenty
he will be cramped
; The ahand
of everyone
who
suffers
will come
against him.
"When he afills his belly
, God will send
His fierce
anger
on him And will brain
it on him 1while he is eating
.
"He may aflee from the iron
weapon
, But the bronze
bow
will pierce
him.
"It is drawn forth
and comes
out of his back
, Even the glittering
point
from ahis gall
. bTerrors
come
upon him,
Complete adarkness
is held
in reserve
for his treasures
, And unfanned
bfire
will devour
him; It will consume
the survivor
in his tent
.
"The aheavens will reveal
his iniquity
, And the earth
will rise
up against him.
"The aincrease of his house
will depart
; His possessions will flow
away bin the day
of His anger
.
"This is the wicked
man's
aportion
from God
, Even the heritage
decreed
to him by God
."