Study Desk

Then Zophar the Naamathite ^[a]answered,

"Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me ^[b]respond, Even because of my ^[c]inward agitation.

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

"Do you know this from ^(b)of old, From the establishment of man on earth,

That the ^(c)triumphing of the wicked is short, And ^(d)the joy of the godless momentary?

"Though his loftiness ^[d](e)reaches the heavens, And his head touches the clouds,

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

"He flies away like a ^(h)dream, and they cannot find him; Even like a vision of the night he is ⁽ⁱ⁾chased away.

"The ^(j)eye which saw him sees him no longer, And ^(k)his place no longer beholds him.

"His ^(l)sons ^[e]favor the poor, And his hands ^(m)give back his wealth.

"His ⁽ⁿ⁾bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it lies down with him ^[f]in the dust.

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

Though he ^[g]desires it and will not let it go, But holds it ^(p)in his ^[h]mouth,

Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the ^[i]venom of cobras within him.

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

"He sucks ^(r)the poison of cobras; The viper's tongue slays him.

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

"He ^(t)returns what he has attained And cannot swallow it; As to the riches of his trading, He cannot even enjoy them.

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

"Because he knew no quiet ^[j]within him, He does ^(v)not retain anything he desires.

"Nothing remains ^[k]for him to devour, Therefore ^(w)his prosperity does not endure.

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

"When he ^(y)fills his belly, God will send His fierce anger on him And will ^(z)rain it on him ^[l]while he is eating.

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

"It is drawn forth and comes out of his back, Even the glittering point from ^(ab)his gall. ^(ac)Terrors come upon him,

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

"The ^(af)heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him.

"The ^(ag)increase of his house will depart; His possessions will flow away ^(ah)in the day of His anger.

"This is the wicked man's ^(ai)portion from God, Even the heritage decreed to him by God."