King James Version KJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
1
Then Zophar the Na'amathite answered:
2 Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.
2
"Therefore my thoughts answer me, because of my haste within me.
3 I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.
3
I hear censure which insults me, and out of my understanding a spirit answers me.
4 Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,
4
Do you not know this from 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?
5
that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment?
6 Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;
6
Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,
7 Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?
7
he will perish for ever like his own dung; those who have seen him will 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.
8
He will fly away like a dream, and not be found; he will be chased away like 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.
9
The eye which saw him will see him no more, nor will his place any more behold him.
10 His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.
10
His children will seek the favor of the poor, and his hands will give back his wealth.
11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.
11
His bones are full of youthful vigor, but it will lie down with him in the dust.
12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;
12
"Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue,
13 Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:
13
though he is loath to let it go, and holds it in his mouth,
14 Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.
14
yet his food is turned in his stomach; 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.
15
He swallows down riches and vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly.
16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.
16
He will suck the poison of asps; the tongue of a viper will kill him.
17 He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.
17
He will not look upon the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds.
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.
18
He will give back the fruit of his toil, and will not swallow it down; from the profit of his trading he will get no enjoyment.
19 Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;
19
For he has crushed and abandoned the poor, he has seized a house which he did not build.
20 Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.
20
"Because his greed knew no rest, he will not save anything in which he delights.
21 There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.
21
There was nothing left after he had eaten; therefore his prosperity will not endure.
22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.
22
In the fulness of his sufficiency he will be in straits; all the force of misery will 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.
23
To fill his belly to the full God will send his fierce anger into him, and rain it upon him as his food.
24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.
24
He will flee from an iron weapon; a bronze arrow will 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.
25
It is drawn forth and comes out of his body, the glittering point comes out of his gall; terrors come 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.
26
Utter darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not blown upon will devour him; what is left in his tent will be consumed.
27 The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.
27
The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.
28 The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.
28
The possessions of his house will be carried away, dragged off in the day of God's wrath.
29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.
29
This is the wicked man's portion from God, the heritage decreed for him by God."
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.