¶ Then answered Zophar¹ the Naamathite, and said,

Therefore do my thoughts² cause me to answer, and for³ this I make haste⁴.

I have heard the check⁵ of my reproach, and the spirit⁶ of my understanding causeth me to answer.

Knowest thou not⁷ this of old, since man⁸ was placed upon earth,

That the triumphing⁹ of the wicked is short¹⁰, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

Though his excellency¹¹ mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds¹²;

Yet he shall perish¹³ for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say¹⁴, Where is he?

He shall fly away¹⁵ as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

The eye¹⁶ also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

¶ His children¹⁷ shall seek¹⁸ to please the poor, and his hands¹⁹ shall restore their goods.

His bones²⁰ are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie²¹ down with him in the dust.

Though wickedness²² be sweet in his mouth, though he hide²³ it under his tongue;

Though he spare it,²⁴ and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth²⁵:

Yet his meat²⁶ in his bowels is turned, it is the gall²⁷ of asps within him.

He hath swallowed²⁸ down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

He shall suck the poison²⁹ of asps: the viper's³⁰ tongue shall slay him.

He shall not see³¹ the rivers³², the floods³³, the brooks of honey and butter.

That which he laboured for shall he restore³⁴, and shall not swallow³⁵ it down: according to his substance³⁶ shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.

Because³⁷ he hath oppressed³⁸ and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently³⁹ taken away an house which he builded not;

¶ Surely⁴⁰ he shall not feel⁴¹ quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.

There shall none of his meat be left⁴²; therefore shall no man look for his goods.

In the fulness⁴³ of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand⁴⁴ of the wicked⁴⁵ shall come upon him.

¶ When he is about⁴⁶ to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it⁴⁷ upon him while he is eating.

He shall flee from⁴⁸ the iron weapon, and the bow⁴⁹ of steel shall strike him⁵⁰ through.

It is drawn⁵¹, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors⁵² are upon him.

All darkness⁵³ shall be hid in his secret places: a fire⁵⁴ not blown shall consume him; it shall go⁵⁵ ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.

The heaven⁵⁶ shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth⁵⁷ shall rise up against him.

The increase⁵⁸ of his house shall depart, and his goods⁵⁹ shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

This is the portion⁶⁰ of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God⁶¹.