[1] Zophar from Naamah said: [2] Therefore, my troubled thoughts make me turn back—because of my inner turmoil. [3] I hear teaching that insults me, but I am forced to answer based on my own understanding. [4] Do you know this from long ago—from when humans were placed on earth— [5] that the rejoicing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless, brief? [6] Though their height reaches heaven and their heads touch the clouds, [7] they will perish forever like their dung; those who saw them will say, “Where are they?” [8] They will disappear like a dream, and none will find them, carried away like a nighttime vision. [9] The eye that saw them will do so no more; they won’t be seen again at home. [10] Their children will repay the poor; their hands will give back their wealth. [11] Vigor filled their bones and now sleeps with them in the dust. [12] Though wickedness is sweet in their mouths, they hide it under their tongues; [13] they like it, won’t let it go; they hold it in their cheeks. [14] Food turns their stomachs, becoming a cobra’s poison inside. [15] They swallow wealth and vomit it; God dislodges it from their belly. [16] They suck cobra’s poison; a viper’s tongue kills them. [17] They won’t experience streams, rivers of honey, and brooks of cream. [18] They won’t receive the reward for their labor; they won’t enjoy the wealth from their business. [19] They crushed and abandoned the poor; stole a house they didn’t build; [20] didn’t know contentment in their belly; couldn’t escape with their treasure. [21] Nothing remained of their food, so their riches will not endure. [22] Even in their plenty, they are hard-pressed; all sorts of trouble come on them. [23] Let God fill their belly, unleash his burning anger on them, rain punishing blows on them. [24] If they flee an iron weapon, a bronze bow pierces them. [25] They pull it out, but it sticks out from their backs; its shaft in their liver brings terror. [26] Complete darkness waits for their treasured possessions; fire that no one stoked consumes them; what’s left in their tent is ruined. [27] Heaven exposes their guilt; earth opposes them. [28] Their household wealth will be carried off by rushing streams on the day of his anger. [29] This is a wicked person’s lot from God, their heritage decreed by God.
