Job 20
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, and said,
Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
2 Therefore my thoughts cause me to answer, even because of my haste that is in me.
“So my anxious thoughts compel me to answer, because of the turmoil within me.
3 I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame, and the spirit of my understanding answers me.
I have heard a rebuke that insults me, and my understanding prompts a reply.
4 Know thou this of old time, since man was placed upon earth,
Do you not know that from antiquity, since man was placed on the earth,
5 that the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the profane but for a moment?
the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?
6 Though his height mounts up to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds,
Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds,
7 yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him shall say, Where is he?
he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’
8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found. Yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.
He will fly away like a dream, never to be found; he will be chased away like a vision in the night.
9 The eye which saw him shall see him no more, neither shall his place any more behold him.
The eye that saw him will see him no more, and his place will no longer behold him.
10 His sons shall seek the favor of the poor, and his hands shall give back his wealth.
His sons will seek the favor of the poor, for his own hands must return his wealth.
11 His bones are full of his youth, but it shall lie down with him in the dust.
The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie down with him in the dust.
12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,
Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue,
13 though he spares it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth,
though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth,
14 yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is the gall of asps within him.
yet in his stomach his food sours into the venom of cobras within him.
15 He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.
He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.
16 He shall suck the poison of asps. The viper's tongue shall kill him.
He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will kill him.
17 He shall not look upon the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.
He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.
18 That which he labored for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.
He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits of his trading.
19 For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.
For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.
20 Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save any of that in which he delights.
Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure.
21 There was nothing left that he did not devour, therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
Nothing is left for him to consume; thus his prosperity will not endure.
22 In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits. The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come upon him.
In the midst of his plenty, he will be distressed; the full force of misery will come upon him.
23 When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, and will rain it upon him while he is eating.
When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats.
24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of brass shall strike him through.
Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce him.
25 He draws it forth, and it comes out of his body, yea, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors are upon him.
It is drawn out of his back, the gleaming point from his liver. Terrors come over him.
26 All darkness is laid up for his treasures. A fire not blown shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent.
Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.
27 The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.
The heavens will expose his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.
28 The increase of his house shall depart, flowed away in the day of his wrath.
The possessions of his house will be removed, flowing away on the day of God’s wrath.
29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God.
This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.”
