Zophar Talks
20 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, 2 “My troubled thoughts make me answer, because I have no rest inside. 3 I heard the strong words that take away my honor. The spirit of my understanding makes me answer. 4 Do you not know from long ago, since man was put on earth, 5 that the honor of the sinful is short, and the joy of the sinful lasts only a short time? 6 Even if his pride is as high as the heavens and his head touches the clouds, 7 he will be gone forever, like his own waste. Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’ 8 He will fly away like a dream, and not be found. He will be driven away like a dream of the night. 9 The eye which saw him will see him no more. His place will no longer see him. 10 His sons will look for the favor of the poor. And his hands will give back his riches. 11 His bones are full of the strength of the young, but it will lie down with him in the dust.
12 “Sin is sweet in his mouth. He hides it under his tongue. 13 He hates to let it go, and holds it in his mouth. 14 Yet his food in his stomach is changed to the poison of snakes inside him. 15 He eats riches, but will spit them up. God will take them out of his stomach. 16 He will drink the poison of snakes. The snake’s tongue will kill him. 17 He will not look at the rivers, the rivers flowing with honey and milk. 18 He must return what he has worked for, and can not eat it. He will not have joy from the riches of his trading. 19 For he has taken from the poor and left them with nothing. He has taken houses which he has not built.
20 “Because he thought he never had enough, he has nothing that gives him joy. 21 There was nothing more for him to get, so his having everything will not last. 22 Even when he has many riches, he will have trouble. Everyone who suffers will come against him. 23 When he fills his stomach, God will send His great anger on him. He will send it on him while he is eating. 24 He may get away from the iron sword, but the brass bow will shoot an arrow in him. 25 It cuts through his body and comes out of his back. The shining arrow comes out of his liver. Much fear comes upon him. 26 Complete darkness is stored up for his riches. A fire not kept going by man will burn him up. It will destroy all that is left in his tent. 27 The heavens will make his sin known, and the earth will rise up against him. 28 The things of his house will be carried away. They will be taken away in the day of God’s anger. 29 This is what God has for sinful men. It is what God chooses to give to them.”