Zophar’s Sermon on the Wicked Man

20 Then aZophar the Naamathite answered and said:

2 “Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer,

Because of the turmoil within me.

3 I have heard the rebuke 1that reproaches me,

And the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer.

4 “Do you not know this of bold,

Since man was placed on earth,

5 cThat the triumphing of the wicked is short,

And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a dmoment?

6 eThough his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens,

And his head reaches to the clouds,

7 Yet he will perish forever like his own refuse;

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

8 He will fly away flike a dream, and not be found;

Yes, he gwill be chased away like a vision of the night.

9 The eye that saw him will see him no more,

Nor will his place behold him anymore.

10 His children will seek the favor of the poor,

And his hands will restore his wealth.

11 His bones are full of hhis youthful vigor,

iBut it will lie down with him in the dust.

12 “Though evil is sweet in his mouth,

And he hides it under his tongue,

13 Though he spares it and does not forsake it,

But still keeps it in his 2mouth,

14 Yet his food in his stomach turns sour;

It becomes cobra venom within him.

15 He swallows down riches

And vomits them up again;

God casts them out of his belly.

16 He will suck the poison of cobras;

The viper’s tongue will slay him.

17 He will not see jthe streams,

The rivers flowing with honey and cream.

18 He will restore that for which he labored,

And will not swallow it down;

From the proceeds of business

He will get no enjoyment.

19 For he has 3oppressed and forsaken the poor,

He has violently seized a house which he did not build.

20 “Because khe knows no quietness in his 4heart,

He will not save anything he desires.

21 Nothing is left for him to eat;

Therefore his well-being will not last.

22 In his self-sufficiency he will be in distress;

Every hand of 5misery will come against him.

23 When 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.

24 lHe will flee from the iron weapon;

A bronze bow will pierce him through.

25 It is drawn, and comes out of the body;

Yes, mthe glittering point comes out of his 6gall.

nTerrors come upon him;

26 Total darkness is reserved for his treasures.

oAn unfanned fire will consume him;

It shall go ill with him who is left in his tent.

27 The heavens will reveal his iniquity,

And the earth will rise up against him.

28 The increase of his house will depart,

And his goods will flow away in the day of His pwrath.

29 qThis is the portion from God for a wicked man,

The heritage appointed to him by God.”