Job 20

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, and said,

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2 Therefore my thoughts cause me to answer, even because of my haste that is in me.

Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.

3 I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame, and the spirit of my understanding answers me.

I have heard the rebuke that reproaches me, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.

4 Know thou this of old time, since man was placed upon earth,

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 profane but for a moment?

That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

6 Though his height mounts up to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds,

Though his excellency shall mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds;

7 yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him shall say, Where is he?

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they who have seen him shall say, 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 shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

9 The eye which saw him shall see him no more, neither shall his place any more behold him.

The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

10 His sons shall seek the favor of the poor, and his hands shall give back his wealth.

His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.

11 His bones are full of his youth, but it shall lie down with him in the dust.

His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.

12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,

Though wickedness may be sweet in his mouth, though he may hide it under his tongue;

13 though he spares it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth,

Though he may spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:

14 yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is the gall of asps within him.

Yet his food in his body is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.

15 He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.

He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

16 He shall suck the poison of asps. The viper's tongue shall kill him.

He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.

17 He shall not look upon the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.

He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.

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.

That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice in it.

19 For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.

Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he did not build;

20 Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save any of that in which he delights.

Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.

21 There was nothing left that he did not devour, therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

There shall none of his food be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.

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 fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall 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 is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.

24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of brass shall strike him through.

He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.

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, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon 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.

All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tent.

27 The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.

The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.

28 The increase of his house shall depart, flowed away in the day of his wrath.

The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God.

This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God.