Study Desk

Then Zophar the Naamathite responded,

"Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me ^(F1)respond, Even because of my ^(F2)inward agitation.

-"I listened to ^(C1)the reprimand which insults me, And the spirit of my understanding makes me answer.

-"Do you know this from ^(C1)ancient times, From the establishment of mankind on earth,

That the ^(C1)rejoicing of the wicked is short, And ^(C2)the joy of the godless momentary?

-"Though his arrogance ^(F1)(C1)reaches the heavens, And his head touches the clouds,

He ^(C1)perishes forever like his refuse; Those who have seen him ^(C2)will say, 'Where is he?'

-"He flies away like a ^(C1)dream, and they cannot find him; Like a vision of the night he is ^(C2)chased away.

-"The ^(C1)eye which saw him sees him no longer, And ^(C2)his place no longer beholds him.

-"His ^(C1)sons ^(F1)favor the poor, And his hands ^(C2)give back his wealth.

-"His ^(C1)bones are full of his youthful strength, But it lies down with him ^(F1)in the dust.

"Though ^(C1)evil tastes sweet in his mouth And he hides it under his tongue,

Though he ^(F1)desires it and will not let it go, But holds it ^(C1)in his ^(F2)mouth,

Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the ^(F1)venom of cobras within him.

-"He swallows riches, But will ^(C1)vomit them up; God will expel them from his belly.

-"He sucks ^(C1)the poison of cobras; The viper's tongue kills him.

-"He does not look at ^(C1)the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and curds.

-"He ^(C1)returns the product of his labor And cannot swallow it; As to the riches of his trading, He cannot even enjoy them.

-"For he has ^(C1)oppressed and neglected the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built.

"Because he knew no quiet ^(F1)within him, He does ^(C1)not retain anything he desires.

-"Nothing remains ^(F1)for him to devour, Therefore ^(C1)his prosperity does not endure.

-"In the fullness of his excess he will be cramped; The ^(C1)hand of everyone who suffers will come against him.

-"When he ^(C1)fills his belly, God will send His fierce anger on him And ^(C2)rain it on him ^(F1)while he is eating.

-"He may ^(C1)flee from the iron weapon, But the bronze bow will pierce him.

-"It is drawn and comes out of his back, Even the flashing point from ^(C1)his gallbladder; ^(C2)Terrors come upon him,

Complete ^(C1)darkness is held in reserve for his treasures, And unfanned ^(C2)fire will devour him; It will consume the survivor in his tent.

-"The ^(C1)heavens will reveal his guilt, And the earth will rise up against him.

-"The ^(C1)increase of his house will disappear; His possessions will flow away ^(C2)on the day of His anger.

-"This is a wicked person's ^(C1)portion from God, The inheritance decreed to him by God."