2“Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer,
Because of the turmoil within me.
3I have heard the rebuke [a]that reproaches me,
And the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer.

4“Do you not know this of old,
Since man was placed on earth,
5That the triumphing of the wicked is short,
And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment?
6Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens,
And his head reaches to the clouds,
7Yet he will perish forever like his own refuse;
Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
8He will fly away like a dream, and not be found;
Yes, he will be chased away like a vision of the night.
9The eye that saw him will see him no more,
Nor will his place behold him anymore.
10His children will seek the favor of the poor,
And his hands will restore his wealth.
11His bones are full of his youthful vigor,
But it will lie down with him in the dust.

12“Though evil is sweet in his mouth,
And he hides it under his tongue,
13Though he spares it and does not forsake it,
But still keeps it in his [b]mouth,
14Yet his food in his stomach turns sour;
It becomes cobra venom within him.
15He swallows down riches
And vomits them up again;
God casts them out of his belly.
16He will suck the poison of cobras;
The viper’s tongue will slay him.
17He will not see the streams,
The rivers flowing with honey and cream.
18He will restore that for which he labored,
And will not swallow it down;
From the proceeds of business
He will get no enjoyment.
19For he has [c]oppressed and forsaken the poor,
He has violently seized a house which he did not build.

20“Because he knows no quietness in his [d]heart,
He will not save anything he desires.
21Nothing is left for him to eat;
Therefore his well-being will not last.
22In his self-sufficiency he will be in distress;
Every hand of [e]misery will come against him.
23When he is about to fill his stomach,
God will cast on him the fury of His wrath,
And will rain it on him while he is eating.
24He will flee from the iron weapon;
A bronze bow will pierce him through.
25It is drawn, and comes out of the body;
Yes, the glittering point comes out of his [f]gall.
Terrors come upon him;
26Total darkness is reserved for his treasures.
An unfanned fire will consume him;
It shall go ill with him who 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,
And his goods will flow away in the day of His wrath.
29This is the portion from God for a wicked man,
The heritage appointed to him by God.”