Job 20
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
Then Zophar the Naamathite made answer and said,
2 “So my anxious thoughts compel me to answer, because of the turmoil within me.
For this cause my thoughts are troubling me and driving me on.
3 I have heard a rebuke that insults me, and my understanding prompts a reply.
I have to give ear to arguments which put me to shame, and your answers to me are wind without wisdom.
4 Do you not know that from antiquity, since man was placed on the earth,
Have you knowledge of this from early times, when man was placed on the earth,
5 the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?
That the pride of the sinner is short, and the joy of the evil-doer but for a minute?
6 Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds,
Though he is lifted up to the heavens, and his head goes up to the clouds;
7 he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’
Like the waste from his body he comes to an end for ever: those who have seen him say, Where is he?
8 He will fly away like a dream, never to be found; he will be chased away like a vision in the night.
He is gone like a dream, and is not seen again; he goes in flight like a vision of the night.
9 The eye that saw him will see him no more, and his place will no longer behold him.
The eye which saw him sees him no longer; and his place has no more knowledge of him.
10 His sons will seek the favor of the poor, for his own hands must return his wealth.
His children are hoping that the poor will be kind to them, and his hands give back his wealth.
11 The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie down with him in the dust.
His bones are full of young strength, but it will go down with him into the dust.
12 Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue,
Though evil-doing is sweet in his mouth, and he keeps it secretly under his tongue;
13 though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth,
Though he takes care of it, and does not let it go, but keeps it still in his mouth;
14 yet in his stomach his food sours into the venom of cobras within him.
His food becomes bitter in his stomach; the poison of snakes is inside him.
15 He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.
He takes down wealth as food, and sends it up again; it is forced out of his stomach by God.
16 He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will kill him.
He takes the poison of snakes into his mouth, the tongue of the snake is the cause of his death.
17 He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.
Let him not see the rivers of oil, the streams of honey and milk.
18 He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits of his trading.
He is forced to give back the fruit of his work, and may not take it for food; he has no joy in the profit of his trading.
19 For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.
Because he has been cruel to the poor, turning away from them in their trouble; because he has taken a house by force which he did not put up;
20 Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure.
There is no peace for him in his wealth, and no salvation for him in those things in which he took delight.
21 Nothing is left for him to consume; thus his prosperity will not endure.
He had never enough for his desire; for this cause his well-being will quickly come to an end.
22 In the midst of his plenty, he will be distressed; the full force of misery will come upon him.
Even when his wealth is great, he is full of care, for the hand of everyone who is in trouble is turned against him.
23 When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats.
God gives him his desire, and sends the heat of his wrath on him, making it come down on him like rain.
24 Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce him.
He may go in flight from the iron spear, but the arrow from the bow of brass will go through him;
25 It is drawn out of his back, the gleaming point from his liver. Terrors come over him.
He is pulling it out, and it comes out of his back; and its shining point comes out of his side; he is overcome by fears.
26 Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.
All his wealth is stored up for the dark: a fire not made by man sends destruction on him, and on everything in his tent.
27 The heavens will expose his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.
The heavens make clear his sin, and the earth gives witness against him.
28 The possessions of his house will be removed, flowing away on the day of God’s wrath.
The produce of his house is taken away into another country, like things given into the hands of others in the day of wrath.
29 This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.”
This is the reward of the evil man, and the heritage given to him by God.
