Zophar Says the Joy of the Wicked Is Short

1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

2“Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me [†]respond,

Even because of my haste within me.

3I listened to the discipline which dishonors me,

And the spirit of my understanding makes me answer.

4Do you know this from of old,

From the establishment of man on earth,

5That the shouts of joy of the wicked are short,

And the gladness of the godless momentary?

6Though his loftiness goes up to the heavens,

And his head touches the clouds,

7He perishes forever like his refuse;

Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’

8He flies away like a dream, and they cannot find him;

Even like a vision of the night he is chased away.

9The eye which saw him sees him no longer,

And his place no longer beholds him.

10His sons seek the favor of the poor,

And his hands give back his wealth.

11His bones are full of his youthful vigor,

But it lies down with him [†]in the dust.

12“Though evil is sweet in his mouth

And he hides it under his tongue,

13Though he [†]desires it and will not forsake it,

And holds it to his palate,

14Yet his food in his stomach is changed

To the [†]venom of cobras within him.

15He swallows up wealth,

But will vomit it up;

God will expel it from his belly.

16He sucks the poison of cobras;

The viper’s tongue kills him.

17He does not look at the streams,

The rivers flowing with honey and curds.

18He returns what he has attained

And cannot swallow it;

As to the wealth of his trading,

He cannot even enjoy it.

19For he has crushed and forsaken the poor;

He has seized a house which he has not built.

20“Because he knew no ease within his belly,

In his covetousness, he does not let anything escape.

21Nothing remains [†]for him to devour;

Therefore his prosperity does not endure.

22In the fullness of his plenty he will be confined;

The hand of everyone who is troubled will come against him.

23So it will be that he fills his belly,

And God will send His burning anger on him

And will rain it on him [†]while he is eating.

24He may flee from the iron weapon,

But the bronze bow will pierce him.

25It is drawn forth and comes out of his back,

Even the glittering point from his gall;

Bouts of dread come upon him.

26Complete darkness is held in reserve for his treasures;

A fire unfanned will devour him;

It will consume the survivor 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 possessions will flow away in the day of His anger.

29This is the wicked man’s portion from God,

Even the inheritance decreed to him by God.”