1And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

2"Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, even because of my inner turmoil.

3I have heard the rebuke which puts me to shame, and the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer.

4Do you not know this from days of old, since man was placed upon earth,

5That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite is for a moment?

6Though his excellency mounts up to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds,

7He shall perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him shall say, 'Where is he?'

8He shall fly away like a dream, and shall not be found, yea, he shall be chased away like a vision of the night.

9The eye also which saw him, shall see him no more; yea, neither shall his place see him any longer.

10His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall give back his wealth.

11His bones are full of his youthful vigor, but it shall lie down with him in the dust.

12Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue;

13Though he desires it and will not let it go; but, keeps it still within his mouth;

14Yet his food in his belly shall be turned and become the gall of asps within him.

15He has swallowed riches, but he shall vomit them up again; God shall cast them out of his belly.

16He shall suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue shall slay him.

17He shall not see the rivers, the flowings of the brooks of honey and butter,

18That which he labored for shall he give back, and shall not swallow it down: according to his possessions shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice in it.

19For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; and has violently seized a house which he did not build.

20Surely he did not know rest in his heart; that in which he delights, he will not save anything.

21There was nothing left for him to devour. Therefore, his prosperity shall not endure.

22In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in trouble; every hand of the wicked shall come against him.

23When he is filling his belly, God shall cast the fury of His wrath upon him, and He shall rain it upon him while he is eating.

24If he shall flee from the iron weapon, a bow of bronze shall pierce him through.

25It will be pulled and come out of his body, yea, the glittering sword comes out of his gall; terrors come upon him.

26All darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not blown by man shall consume him; those left in his tabernacle shall be broken.

27The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.

28The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

29This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and his heritage decreed by God."