[1] Zophar's Second Speech Zophar from Naamah said: [2] Your words are disturbing; now I must speak. [3] You have accused and insulted me, and reason requires a reply. [4] Since the time of creation, everyone has known [5] that sinful people are happy for only a while. [6] Though their pride and power may reach to the sky, [7] they will disappear like dust, and those who knew them will wonder what happened. [8] They will be forgotten like a dream [9] and vanish from the sight of family and friends. [10] Their children will have to repay what the parents took from the poor. [11] Indeed, the wicked will die and go to their graves in the prime of life. [12] Sinners love the taste of sin; they relish every bite [13] and swallow it slowly. [14] But their food will turn sour and poison their stomachs. [15] Then God will make them lose the wealth they gobbled down. [16] They will die from the fangs of poisonous snakes [17] and never enjoy rivers flowing with milk and honey. [18] Their hard work will result in nothing gained, [19] because they cheated the poor and took their homes. [20] Greedy people want everything and are never satisfied. [21] But when nothing remains for them to grab, they will be nothing. [22] Once they have everything, distress and despair will strike them down, [23] and God will make them swallow his blazing anger. [24] While running from iron spears, they will be killed by arrows of bronze, [25] whose shining tips go straight through their bodies. They will be trapped by terror, [26] and what they treasure most will be lost in the dark. God will send flames to destroy them in their tents with all their property. [27] The heavens and the earth will testify against them, [28] and all their possessions will be dragged off when God becomes angry. [29] This is what God has decided for those who are evil.
