1   
Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and saide,

2   
Therefore doe my thoughts cause mee to answere, and for this ^note I make haste.

3   
I haue heard the checke of my reproach, and the spirit of my vnderstanding causeth me to answere.

4   
Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed vpon earth,

5   
^noteThat the triumphing of the wicked is ^note short, and the ioy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

6   
Though his excellencie mount vp to the heauens, and his head reach vnto the ^note clouds:

7   
Yet he shall perish for euer, like his owne doung: they which haue seene him, shall say, Where is he?

8   
He shall flie away as a dreame, and shall not be found: yea he shalbe 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   
^noteHis children shall seeke to please the poore, and his hands shall restore their goods.

11   
His bones are ful of the sinne of his The wickeds portion. youth, which shall ye downe with him in the dust.

12   
Though wickednes be sweet in his mouth, though hee hide it vnder his tongue;

13   
Though he spare it, and forsake it not, but keepe it stil ^note within his mouth:

14   
Yet his meate in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of Aspes within him.

15   
He hath swallowed downe riches, and hee shall vomite them vp againe: God shall cast them out of his belly.

16   
He shall sucke the poison of Aspes: the vipers tongue shall slay him.

17   
Hee shall not see the riuers, ^note the floods, the brookes of hony and butter.

18   
That which he laboured for, shall he restore, ∧ shall not swallow it downe: ^note according to his substance shall the restitution bee, and hee shall not reioyce therein.

19   
Because hee hath ^note oppressed, and hath forsaken the poore; because he hath violently taken away an ^note house which he builded not:

20   
Surely he shall not ^note feele quietnesse in his belly, hee shall not saue of that which he desired.

21   
^noteThere shall none of his meat be left, therefore shall no man looke for his goods.

22   
In the fulnesse of his sufficiencie, he shalbe in straites: euery hand of the ^note wicked shall come vpon him.

23   
When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the furie of his wrath vpon him, and shall raine it vpon him while he is eating.

24   
He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steele shall strike him through.

25   
It is drawen, and commeth out of the body; yea the glistering sword commeth out of his gall; terrours are vpon him.

26   
All darknesse shalbe hid in his secret places: a fire not blowen shall consume him; it shall goe ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.

27   
The heauen shall reueale his iniquitie: and the earth shall rise vp 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 ^note appointed vnto him by God.

The wicked prosper. 457

Previous section

Next section