² “My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer
    because I am greatly disturbed.^(B)
3 I hear a rebuke^(C) that dishonors me,
    and my understanding inspires me to reply.

⁴ “Surely you know how it has been from of old,^(D)
    ever since mankind^[a] was placed on the earth,
⁵ that the mirth of the wicked^(E) is brief,
    the joy of the godless^(F) lasts but a moment.^(G)
6 Though the pride^(H) of the godless person reaches to the heavens^(I)
    and his head touches the clouds,^(J)
7 he will perish forever,^(K) like his own dung;
    those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’^(L)
8 Like a dream^(M) he flies away,^(N) no more to be found,
    banished^(O) like a vision of the night.^(P)
9 The eye that saw him will not see him again;
    his place will look on him no more.^(Q)
10 His children^(R) must make amends to the poor;
    his own hands must give back his wealth.^(S)
11 The youthful vigor^(T) that fills his bones^(U)
    will lie with him in the dust.^(V)

¹² “Though evil^(W) is sweet in his mouth
    and he hides it under his tongue,^(X)
13 though he cannot bear to let it go
    and lets it linger in his mouth,^(Y)
14 yet his food will turn sour in his stomach;^(Z)
    it will become the venom of serpents^(AA) within him.
¹⁵ He will spit out the riches^(AB) he swallowed;
    God will make his stomach vomit^(AC) them up.
¹⁶ He will suck the poison^(AD) of serpents;
    the fangs of an adder will kill him.^(AE)
17 He will not enjoy the streams,
    the rivers^(AF) flowing with honey^(AG) and cream.^(AH)
18 What he toiled for he must give back uneaten;^(AI)
    he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.^(AJ)
19 For he has oppressed the poor^(AK) and left them destitute;^(AL)
    he has seized houses^(AM) he did not build.

²⁰ “Surely he will have no respite from his craving;^(AN)
    he cannot save himself by his treasure.^(AO)
21 Nothing is left for him to devour;
    his prosperity will not endure.^(AP)
22 In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him;^(AQ)
    the full force of misery will come upon him.^(AR)
23 When he has filled his belly,^(AS)
    God will vent his burning anger^(AT) against him
    and rain down his blows on him.^(AU)
24 Though he flees^(AV) from an iron weapon,
    a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.^(AW)
25 He pulls it out of his back,
    the gleaming point out of his liver.
Terrors^(AX) will come over him;^(AY)
26     total darkness^(AZ) lies in wait for his treasures.
A fire^(BA) unfanned will consume him^(BB)
    and devour what is left in his tent.^(BC)
27 The heavens will expose his guilt;
    the earth will rise up against him.^(BD)
28 A flood will carry off his house,^(BE)
    rushing waters^[b] on the day of God’s wrath.^(BF)
29 Such is the fate God allots the wicked,
    the heritage appointed for them by God.”^(BG)