1 T hen answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

2 T herefore do my thoughts give answer to me, Even by reason of my haste that is in me.

Therefore do my thoughts give me an answer, and I make haste for this reason.

3 I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame; And the spirit of my understanding answereth me.

I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame, but out of my understanding my spirit answers me.

4 K nowest thou not this of old time, Since man was placed upon earth,

Do you not know from of old, since the time that man was placed on the earth,

5 T hat the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless but for a moment?

That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless and defiled is but for a moment?

6 T hough his height mount up to the heavens, And his head reach unto the clouds;

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

7 Y et he shall perish for ever like his own dung: They that have seen him shall say, Where is he?

Yet he will perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, Where is he?

8 H e shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: Yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

He will fly away like a dream and will not be found; yes, he will be chased away as a vision of the night.

9 T he eye which saw him shall see him no more; Neither shall his place any more behold him.

The eye which saw him will see him no more, neither will his place any more behold him.

10 H is children shall seek the favor of the poor, And his hands shall give back his wealth.

The poor will oppress his children, and his hands will give back his wealth.

11 H is bones are full of his youth, But it shall lie down with him in the dust.

His bones are full of youthful energy, but it will lie down with him in the dust.

12 T hough wickedness be sweet in his mouth, Though he hide it under his tongue,

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

13 T hough he spare it, and will not let it go, But keep it still within his mouth;

Though he is loath to let it go but keeps it still within his mouth,

14 Y et his food in his bowels is turned, It is the gall of asps within him.

Yet his food turns in his stomach; it is the venom of asps within him.

15 H e hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again; God will cast them out of his belly.

He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again; God will cast them out of his belly.

16 H e shall suck the poison of asps: The viper's tongue shall slay him.

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

17 H e shall not look upon the rivers, The flowing streams of honey and butter.

He shall not look upon the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.

18 T hat which he labored for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down; According to the substance that he hath gotten, he shall not rejoice.

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

19 F or he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; He hath violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.

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

20 B ecause he knew no quietness within him, He shall not save aught of that wherein he delighteth.

Because his desire and greed knew no quietness within him, he will not save anything of that in which he delights.

21 T here was nothing left that he devoured not; Therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

There was nothing left that he did not devour; therefore his prosperity will not endure.

22 I n the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: The hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon him.

In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be poor and in straits; every hand of everyone who is in misery shall come upon him.

23 W hen he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, And will rain it upon him while he is eating.

When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of His wrath upon him and will rain it upon him while he is eating.

24 H e shall flee from the iron weapon, And the bow of brass shall strike him through.

He will flee from the iron weapon, but the bow of bronze shall strike him through.

25 H e draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body; Yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall: Terrors are upon him.

is drawn forth and it comes out after passing through his body; yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors march in upon him;

26 A ll darkness is laid up for his treasures: A fire not blown by man shall devour him; It shall consume that which is left in his tent.

Every misfortune is laid up for his treasures. A fire not blown by man shall devour him; it shall consume what is left in his tent.

27 T he heavens shall reveal his iniquity, And the earth shall rise up against him.

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

28 T he increase of his house shall depart; His goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

The produce and increase of his house will go into exile, dragged away in the day of wrath.

29 T his is the portion of a wicked man from God, And the heritage appointed unto him by God.

This is the wicked man’s portion from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God.