A reading from the book of Job.

Then Zofar the Nehemetthite answered and said, Therefore my thoughts answer me, because

of my haste within me.

I hear censure that insults me, and out of my understanding a spirit answers me.

Do you not know this from of old since man was placed on earth,

that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment?

Though his height mount up to the heavens and his head reach to the clouds, he will perish forever

like his own dung.

Those who have seen him will say,

Where is he?

He will fly away like a dream and not be found.

He will be chased away like a vision of the night.

The eye that saw him will see him no more, nor will his place any more

behold him. His children will seek the favor of the poor, and his hands will give back his wealth.

His bones are full of his youthful vigor, but it will lie down with him in the dust.

Though evil is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue,

though he is loath to let it go and holds it in his mouth, yet his food is turned in his stomach.

It is the venom of cobras within him.

He swallows down riches and vomits them up again. God casts them out of his belly. He will suck the poison of cobras. The tongue of a viper will kill him. He will not look upon the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds. He will give back

the fruit of his toil and will not swallow it down. From the profit of his trading, he will get no

enjoyment, for he has crushed and abandoned the poor. He has seized a house that he did not build. Because he knew no

contentment in his belly, he will not let anything in which he delights escape him. There was

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