Zophar’s Sermon on the Wicked Man
1 ThenZophar 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 that reproaches me,
And the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer.
4 “Do younotknow this ofold,
Since man was placed on earth,
5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short,
# And the joy of the hypocrite isbutfor amoment?
6 Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens,
And his head reaches to the clouds,
7 Yethe will perish forever like his own refuse;
Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
8 He will fly awaylike a dream, and not be found;
# Yes, hewill be chased away like a vision of the night.
9 The eyethatsaw him willseehimno 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 ofhis youthful vigor,
# But it will lie down with him in the dust.
12 “Though evil is sweet in his mouth,
Andhe hides it under his tongue,
13 Thoughhe spares it and does not forsake it,
But still keeps it in his mouth,
14 Yethis 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 seethe streams,
The rivers flowing with honey and cream.
18 He will restore that for which he labored,
And will not swallowitdown;
From the proceeds of business
He will get no enjoyment.
19 For he has oppressedandforsaken the poor,
He has violently seized a house which he did not build.
20 “Becausehe knows no quietness in his heart,
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 misery will come against him.
23 Whenhe is about to fill his stomach,
Godwill cast on him the fury of His wrath,
And will rainiton him while he is eating.
24 He will flee from the iron weapon;
A bronze bow will pierce him through.
25 It is drawn, and comes out of the body;
# Yes,the glitteringpointcomesout of his gall.
# Terrorscomeupon him;
26 Total darknessisreserved for his treasures.
# An 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,
# Andhisgoodswill flow away in the day of Hiswrath.
29 Thisisthe portion from God for a wicked man,
The heritage appointed to him by God.”