Exhibit 5.1

[SWIFT ENERGY COMPANY]                                 SWIFT ENERGY COMPANY
                                                       16825 NORTHCHASE DRIVE
                                                       SUITE 400
                                                       HOUSTON, TEXAS 77060
                                                       TELEPHONE (281) 874-2700
                                                       FAX (281) 874-2701



                                June 6, 2006



Swift Energy Company
16825 Northchase Dr., Suite 400
Houston, Texas  77069

Re:  Registration  Statement on Form S-8  covering a total of 850,000  shares of
     common  stock of Swift  Energy  Company  issuable  under the  Swift  Energy
     Company 2005 Stock Compensation Plan

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am the  General  Counsel--Corporate,  of Swift  Energy  Company,  a Texas
corporation  (the  "Company"),  and as such,  I have been  asked to  render  the
following opinion in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration  Statement")  to be filed by the Company with the  Securities  and
Exchange   Commission  under  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  as  amended  (the
"Securities  Act"),  on or about  June 6, 2006,  to  register a total of 850,000
shares of common  stock (the  "Shares") of the Company that may be issued by the
Company pursuant to the Swift Energy Company 2005 Stock  Compensation  Plan (the
"2005 Plan").

     In connection  therewith,  I have examined and relied upon the original, or
copies  identified  to  my  satisfaction,  of  the  Company's  (1)  Articles  of
Incorporation,  as amended,  and the Bylaws, as amended; (2) minutes and records
of the corporate proceedings with respect to the establishment of the 2005 Plan,
the issuance of the Shares  pursuant to the 2005 Plan and related  matters;  (3)
the Registration  Statement and exhibits  thereto,  and (4) such other documents
and instruments as I have deemed  necessary for the expression of opinion herein
contained. In making the foregoing examinations,  I have assumed the genuineness
of all  signatures  and the  authenticity  of all  documents  submitted to me as
originals,  and the conformity to original documents of all documents  submitted
to me as  certified  or  photostatic  copies.  As to various  questions  of fact
material to this  opinion,  and as to the  content  and form of the  Articles of
Incorporation,  as  amended,  and the  Bylaws,  as  amended,  minutes,  records,
resolutions  and other documents or writings of the Company,  I have relied,  to
the extent deemed reasonably  appropriate,  upon representations,  statements or
certificates of public officials or officers or representatives of the Company.




Swift Energy Company
June 6, 2006
Page 2 of 2

     Based upon the foregoing,  I am of the opinion that the Shares, when issued
and  outstanding  pursuant to the terms of the 2005 Plan will be validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.

     The opinion  expressed herein is limited to the laws of the State of Texas,
and  the  federal  laws  of the  United  States  of  America  and we  assume  no
responsibility as to the applicability  thereto,  or the effect thereon,  of the
laws of any other jurisdiction.

     I  hereby  consent  to  the  use  of  this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to the
Registration  Statement.  In giving this consent,  I do not thereby admit that I
come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the  Securities  Act or rules and  regulations  of the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission thereunder.

     I am delivering  this opinion to the Company,  and no person other than the
Company may rely on it.

                             Respectfully submitted,

                             /s/ Karen Bryant

                             Karen Bryant
                             General Counsel--Corporate