Zophar: Triumph of the Wicked Short-lived

1Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, 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 putteth me to shame, and the spirit of my understanding answereth me.

4Knowest thou not this of old time, since man was placed upon earth,

5That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment?

6Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

7Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

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

9The eye which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

10His children shall seek the favour of the poor, and his hands shall give back his wealth.

11His bones are full of his youth, but it shall lie down with him in the dust.

12Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;

13Though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;

14Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.

15He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

16He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.

17He shall not look upon the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.

18That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down; according to the substance that he hath gotten, he shall not rejoice.

19For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away an house, and he shall not build it up.

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

21There was nothing left that he devoured not; therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

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

23When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.

24He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of brass shall strike him through.

25He draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body: yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall; terrors are upon him.

26All 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.

27The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.

28The increase of his house shall depart, his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

29This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.