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1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
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2 Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.
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3 I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.
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4 Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,
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5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?
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6 Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;
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7 Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?
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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.
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9 The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.
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10 His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.
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11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.
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12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;
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13 Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:
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14 Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.
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15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.
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16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.
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17 He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.
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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.
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19 Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;
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20 Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.
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21 There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.
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22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.
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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.
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24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.
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25 It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.
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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.
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27 The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.
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28 The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.
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29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.
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- 1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,
- 2 “Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me respond, Even because of my inward agitation.
- 3 “I listened to the reproof which insults me, And the spirit of my understanding makes me answer.
- 4 “Do you know this from of old, From the establishment of man on earth,
- 5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless momentary?
- 6 “Though his loftiness reaches the heavens, And his head touches the clouds,
- 7 He perishes forever like his refuse; Those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'
- 8 “He flies away like a dream, and they cannot find him; Even like a vision of the night he is chased away.
- 9 “The eye which saw him sees him no longer, And his place no longer beholds him.
- 10 “His sons favor the poor, And his hands give back his wealth.
- 11 “His bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it lies down with him in the dust.
- 12 “Though evil is sweet in his mouth And he hides it under his tongue,
- 13 Though he desires it and will not let it go, But holds it in his mouth,
- 14 Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the venom of cobras within him.
- 15 “He swallows riches, But will vomit them up; God will expel them from his belly.
- 16 “He sucks the poison of cobras; The viper's tongue slays him.
- 17 “He does not look at the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and curds.
- 18 “He returns what he has attained And cannot swallow it; As to the riches of his trading, He cannot even enjoy them.
- 19 “For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built.
- 20 “Because he knew no quiet within him, He does not retain anything he desires.
- 21 “Nothing remains for him to devour, Therefore his prosperity does not endure.
- 22 “In the fullness of his plenty he will be cramped; The hand of everyone who suffers will come against him.
- 23 “When he fills his belly, God will send His fierce anger on him And will rain it on him while he is eating.
- 24 “He may flee from the iron weapon, But the bronze bow will pierce him.
- 25 “It is drawn forth and comes out of his back, Even the glittering point from his gall. Terrors come upon him,
- 26 Complete darkness is held in reserve for his treasures, And unfanned fire will devour him; It will consume the survivor 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; His possessions will flow away in the day of His anger.
- 29 “This is the wicked man's portion from God, Even the heritage decreed to him by God.”
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