1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said, 2Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, Even by reason of my haste that is in me. 3I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame; And the spirit of my understanding answers me. 4Do you [not] know this of old time, Since man was placed on earth, 5That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless but for a moment? 6Though his height mounts up to the heavens, And his head reaches to the clouds; 7Yet he will perish forever like his own dung: Those who have seen him will say, Where is he? 8He will fly away as a dream, and will not be found: Yes, he will be chased away as a vision of the night. 9The eye which saw him will see him no more; Neither will his place anymore look at him. 10His sons will seek the favor of the poor, And his hands will give back his wealth. 11His bones are full of his youth, But it will lie down with him in the dust. 12Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, Though he hides it under his tongue, 13Though he spares it, and will not let it go, But keeps it still inside his mouth; 14Yet his food in his insides is turned, It is the gall of cobras inside him. 15He has swallowed down riches, and he will vomit them up again; God will cast them out of his belly. 16He will suck the poison of cobras: The viper's tongue will slay him. 17He will not look at the rivers, The flowing streams of honey and butter. 18That which he labored for he will restore, and will not swallow it down; According to the substance that he has gotten, he will not rejoice. 19For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; He has violently taken away a house, and he will not build it up. 20Because he knew no quietness inside him, He will not save anything of that in which he delights. 21There was nothing left that he didn't devour; Therefore his prosperity will not endure. 22In the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in straits: The hand of everyone who is in misery will come upon him. 23When he is about to fill his belly, [God] will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him, And will rain it on him while he is eating. 24He will flee from the iron weapon, And the bow of bronze will strike him through. 25He draws it forth, and it comes out of his back; Yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall: Terrors are on him. 26All darkness is laid up for his treasures: A fire not blown [by man] will devour him; It will consume that which is left in his tent. 27The heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him. 28The increase of his house will depart; [His goods] will flow away in the day of his wrath. 29This is the portion of [the] wicked man from God, And the heritage appointed to him by God.