1And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
2Therefore my thoughts give me answer, and because of my haste that is within me.
3The chastisement of my shame I hear, and a spirit (ruach) from my understanding answers me.
4Do you know this from of old, since the setting of man (adam) upon earth,
5that the rejoicing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless is for a moment?
6Though his loftiness ascends to the heavens, and his head reaches to the cloud,
7like his own dung he perishes forever; those who saw him say, "Where is he?"
8Like a dream he flies away, and they do not find him; and he is chased away like a vision of the night.
9The eye that glimpsed him does so no more, and his place beholds him no longer.
10His sons seek the favor of the poor, and his hands restore his wealth.
11His bones are full of his youth, but with him upon the dust (aphar) it lies down.
12Though evil is sweet in his mouth, and he hides it under his tongue;
13though he spares it and does not forsake it, and withholds it within his palate;
14his bread in his bowels is turned, the gall of asps within him.
15He has swallowed wealth, and he vomits it up; God drives it out of his belly.
16He sucks the venom of asps; the tongue of the viper slays him.
17He does not look upon the streams, the rivers, the brooks of honey and curd.
18He returns the fruit of his toil and does not swallow it; like the wealth of his trade, and he does not exult.
19For he crushed, he forsook the poor; he seized a house and does not build it.
20For he knew no quietness in his belly; in his greed he lets nothing escape.
21There is nothing left of his devouring; therefore his good does not endure.
22In the fullness of his sufficiency he is in distress; every hand of the toiler comes upon him.
23Let it be, to fill his belly, He sends upon him the burning of His anger, and rains it upon him as his food.
24He flees from the iron weapon; the bow of bronze pierces him through.
25He draws it out, and it comes out of his body; and the glittering point from his gall; terrors come upon him.
26All darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not fanned consumes him; it goes ill with what is left in his tent.
27The heavens reveal his iniquity, and the earth rises up against him.
28The increase of his house departs, flowing away in the day of His anger.
29This is the portion of a wicked man (adam) from God, and the heritage of his decree from God.