1. Then Tsophar the Na‛amathite answered and said,
2. “Truly, my thoughts make me respond, even because of my haste within me.
3. I have listened to the reproof which insults me, and the spirit of my understanding makes me answer.
4. You have known this of old, since man was placed on earth,
5. that the singing of the wrong is short-lived, and the joy of the defiled one is but for a moment?
6. Although his pride mounts up to the heavens, and his head does reach to the clouds,
7. he perishes forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him say, ‘Where is he?’
8. He flies away like a dream, and is not found. And he is driven away like a vision of the night.
9. Eyes that saw him do so no more, nor does his place see him any more.
10. His sons seek the favour of the poor, and his hands give back his wealth.
11. His bones shall be filled with his youth, but it lies down with him in the dust.
12. Though evil is sweet in his mouth, he hides it under his tongue,
13. though he fondles it and does not forsake it, but still keeps it in his mouth,
14. his food is turned in his stomach, the bitterness of cobras is in him.