⁵ that the mirth of the wicked^(A) is brief,
    the joy of the godless^(B) lasts but a moment.^(C)

³⁵ I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
    flourishing^(A) like a luxuriant native tree,
³⁶ but he soon passed away and was no more;
    though I looked for him, he could not be found.^(B)

¹² While still growing and uncut,
    they wither more quickly than grass.^(A)
13 Such is the destiny^(B) of all who forget God;^(C)
    so perishes the hope of the godless.^(D)

¹⁸ Surely you place them on slippery ground;^(A)
    you cast them down to ruin.^(B)
19 How suddenly^(C) are they destroyed,
    completely swept away^(D) by terrors!
²⁰ They are like a dream^(E) when one awakes;^(F)
    when you arise, Lord,
    you will despise them as fantasies.^(G)

¹³ “Here is the fate God allots to the wicked,
    the heritage a ruthless man receives from the Almighty:^(A)
14 However many his children,^(B) their fate is the sword;^(C)
    his offspring will never have enough to eat.^(D)
15 The plague will bury those who survive him,
    and their widows will not weep for them.^(E)
16 Though he heaps up silver like dust^(F)
    and clothes like piles of clay,^(G)
17 what he lays up^(H) the righteous will wear,^(I)
    and the innocent will divide his silver.^(J)
18 The house^(K) he builds is like a moth’s cocoon,^(L)
    like a hut^(M) made by a watchman.
¹⁹ He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more;^(N)
    when he opens his eyes, all is gone.^(O)
20 Terrors^(P) overtake him like a flood;^(Q)
    a tempest snatches him away in the night.^(R)
21 The east wind^(S) carries him off, and he is gone;^(T)
    it sweeps him out of his place.^(U)
22 It hurls itself against him without mercy^(V)
    as he flees headlong^(W) from its power.^(X)
23 It claps its hands^(Y) in derision
    and hisses him out of his place.”^(Z)