20 Then
answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, 2 Therefore
do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste. 3 I
have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding
causeth me to answer. 4 Knowest
thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth, 5 That
the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but
for a moment? 6 Though
his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds; 7 Yet
he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall
say, Where is he? 8 He
shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased
away as a vision of the night. 9 The
eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place
any more behold him. 10 His
children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their
goods. 11 His
bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him
in the dust. 12 Though
wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue; 13 Though
he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth: 14 Yet
his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.
15
He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall
cast them out of his belly. 16 He
shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him. 17 He
shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter. 18 That
which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according
to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein. 19 Because
he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently
taken away an house which he builded not; 20 Surely
he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which
he desired. 21 There
shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods. 22 In
the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the
wicked shall come upon him. 23 When
he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon
him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating. 24 He
shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through. 25 It
is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out
of his gall: terrors are upon him. 26 All
darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume
him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle. 27 The
heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him. 28 The
increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the
day of his wrath. 29 This
is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto
him by God.