4 “Surely you know how it has been from of old,

ever since mankind was placed on the earth,

5 that the mirth of the wicked is brief,

the joy of the godless lasts but a moment.

4 Knowest thou not this of old,

Since man was placed upon earth,

5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short,

And the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

4 “Don’t you realize that from the beginning of time,

ever since people were first placed on the earth,

5 the triumph of the wicked has been short lived

and the joy of the godless has been only temporary?

4 “Do you not know this of old,

Since man was placed on earth,

5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short,

And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment?

4 “You know how it has been for a long time,

ever since people were first put on the earth.

5 The happiness of evil people is brief,

and the joy of the wicked lasts only a moment.

4 Knowest thou not this of old time,

Since man was placed upon earth,

5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short,

And the joy of the godless but for a moment?

4 Knowest thou not this, that of old, since man was placed upon earth, 5 The exultation of the wicked is short, and the joy of the ungodly man but for a moment?

4 “Don’t you know 

that from ancient times, 

from the time humans were placed on earth, 

5 the triumph of the wicked is short-lived, 

and the joy of the godless person lasts only a moment? 

4 Don’t you know that ever since antiquity,

from the time man was placed on earth,

5 the joy of the wicked has been brief

and the happiness of the godless has lasted only a moment?

4 Do you not know this from of old,

ever since mortals were placed on earth,

5 that the exulting of the wicked is short,

and the joy of the godless is but for a moment?

4 “Did you know this from of old,

since the setting of the human being on earth,

5 that the rejoicing of the wicked is short,

and the joy of the godless lasts only a moment?

4 “I’m sure you must know how things have always been.

They’ve been that way

ever since man was placed on this earth.

5 Those who are evil are happy for only a short time.

The joy of ungodly people lasts only for a moment.

4 “Do you know this from of old,

From the establishment of man on earth,

5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short,

And the joy of the godless momentary?