Zophar: Destruction Awaits the Wicked

1And the Naainathite will answer and say,

2For this my thoughts will turn back, and because of my haste in me.

3I shall hear the instruction of my shame, and the spirit of my understanding will cause me to answer.

4Thou knewest this from everlasting when man was set upon the earth:

5For the rejoicing of the unjust drawing near, and the gladness of the profane even for a moment.

6If his elevation shall go up to the heavens, and his head shall reach to the cloud;

7As his dung he shall perish forever: they seeing him shall say, Where is he?

8As a dream he shall fly away, and they shall not find him: and he shall flee away as the vision of the night.

9The eye scanned him and shall not add; and his place shall no more look after him.

10The weak shall break his sons, and his hands shall turn back his wealth.

11His bones were full of his youth, and shall lie down with him in the dust.

12If evil shall be sweet in his mouth he will cover it under his tongue;

13He will spare over it, and forsake it not, and keep it back in the midst of his palate:

14His bread in his bowels was turned, the gall of asps in his midst.

15He swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit it up, and God shall drive it out of his belly.

16He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall kill him.

17He shall not look upon the streams, the rivers, the torrents of honey and curdled milk.

18Turning back the labor, and he shall not swallow down: according to the substance of his exchange and he shall not exult.

19For he oppressed, forsaking the poor; he stripped the house and he will not build it up.

20For he knew not tranquillity in his belly, in his desire he shall not escape.

21Nothing was left to his food; for this his good shall not be stable.

22In the fulness of his abundance it shall be pressed to him: every laboring hand shall come to him.

23He will be for filling his belly, he will send upon him the burning of his anger, and will rain upon him in his eating.

24He shall flee from the weapon of iron, the bow of brass shall pierce him.

25Being drawn it will come forth from the body; and the lightning will go from his bile, and terrors upon him.

26All darkness hid for his secret places: a fire not blown upon shall devour him; and the remaining one shall do evil upon his tent.

27The heavens shall uncover his iniquity, and the earth an adversary against him.

28The increase of his house shall be rolled off; they were poured out in the day of his anger.

29This the portion of an unjust man and the lot of his command from God.