1 Then a Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
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"Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer,
Because of the turmoil within me.
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I have heard the rebuke 1 that reproaches me,
And the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer.
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"Do you not know this of b old,
Since man was placed on earth,
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c That the triumphing of the wicked is short,
And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a d moment?
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e Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens,
And his head reaches to the clouds,
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Yet he will perish forever like his own refuse;
Those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'
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He will fly away f like a dream, and not be found;
Yes, he g will be chased away like a vision of the night.
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The eye that saw him will see him no more,
Nor will his place behold him anymore.
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His children will seek the favor of the poor,
And his hands will restore his wealth.
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His bones are full of h his youthful vigor,
i But it will lie down with him in the dust.
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"Though evil is sweet in his mouth,
And he hides it under his tongue,
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Though he spares it and does not forsake it,
But still keeps it in his 2 mouth,
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Yet his food in his stomach turns sour;
It becomes cobra venom within him.
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He swallows down riches
And vomits them up again;
God casts them out of his belly.
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He will suck the poison of cobras;
The viper's tongue will slay him.
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He will not see j the streams,
The rivers flowing with honey and cream.
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He will restore that for which he labored,
And will not swallow it down;
From the proceeds of business
He will get no enjoyment.
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For he has 3 oppressed and forsaken the poor,
He has violently seized a house which he did not build.
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"Because k he knows no quietness in his 4 heart,
He will not save anything he desires.
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Nothing is left for him to eat;
Therefore his well-being will not last.
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In his self-sufficiency he will be in distress;
Every hand of 5 misery will come against him.
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When he is about to fill his stomach,
God will cast on him the fury of His wrath,
And will rain it on him while he is eating.
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l He will flee from the iron weapon;
A bronze bow will pierce him through.
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It is drawn, and comes out of the body;
Yes, m the glittering point comes out of his 6 gall.
n Terrors come upon him;
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Total darkness is reserved for his treasures.
o An unfanned fire will consume him;
It shall go ill with him who is left in his tent.
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The heavens will reveal his iniquity,
And the earth will rise up against him.
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The increase of his house will depart,
And his goods will flow away in the day of His p wrath.
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q This is the portion from God for a wicked man,
The heritage appointed to him by God."