## Zophar Says the Joy of the Wicked Is Short 

###### 1
Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said, 

###### 2
"Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me respond, Even because of my haste within me. 

###### 3
I listened to the discipline which dishonors me, And the spirit of my understanding makes me answer. 

###### 4
Do you know this from of old, From the establishment of man on earth, 

###### 5
That the shouts of joy of the wicked are short, And the gladness of the godless momentary? 

###### 6
Though his loftiness goes up to the heavens, And his head touches the clouds, 

###### 7
He perishes forever like his refuse; Those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?' 

###### 8
He flies away like a dream, and they cannot find him; Even like a vision of the night he is chased away. 

###### 9
The eye which saw him sees him no longer, And his place no longer beholds him. 

###### 10
His sons seek the favor of the poor, And his hands give back his wealth. 

###### 11
His bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it lies down with him in the dust. 

###### 12
"Though evil is sweet in his mouth _And_ he hides it under his tongue, 

###### 13
_Though_ he desires it and will not forsake it, And holds it to his palate, 

###### 14
_Yet_ his food in his stomach is changed To the venom of cobras within him. 

###### 15
He swallows up wealth, But will vomit it up; God will expel it from his belly. 

###### 16
He sucks the poison of cobras; The viper's tongue kills him. 

###### 17
He does not look at the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and curds. 

###### 18
He returns what he has attained And cannot swallow _it_; As to the wealth of his trading, He cannot even enjoy _it_. 

###### 19
For he has crushed _and_ forsaken the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built. 

###### 20
"Because he knew no ease within his belly, In his covetousness, he does not let _anything_ escape. 

###### 21
Nothing remains for him to devour; Therefore his prosperity does not endure. 

###### 22
In the fullness of his plenty he will be confined; The hand of everyone who is troubled will come _against_ him. 

###### 23
So it will be that he fills his belly, _And God_ will send His burning anger on him And will rain _it_ on him while he is eating. 

###### 24
He may flee from the iron weapon, _But_ the bronze bow will pierce him. 

###### 25
It is drawn forth and comes out of his back, Even the glittering point from his gall; Bouts of dread come upon him. 

###### 26
Complete darkness is held in reserve for his treasures; A fire unfanned will devour him; It will consume the survivor 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; _His possessions_ will flow away in the day of His anger. 

###### 29
This is the wicked man's portion from God, Even the inheritance decreed to him by God."