Job 20
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,
2 “So my anxious thoughts compel me to answer, because of the turmoil within me.
Therefore do my thoughts give me an answer, and for this is my haste within me.
3 I have heard a rebuke that insults me, and my understanding prompts a reply.
I hear a reproof putting me to shame; and [my] spirit answereth me by mine understanding.
4 Do you not know that from antiquity, since man was placed on the earth,
Knowest thou [not] this, that of old, since man was placed upon earth,
5 the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?
The exultation of the wicked is short, and the joy of the ungodly man but for a moment?
6 Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds,
Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds,
7 he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’
Like his own dung doth he perish for ever; they which have seen him shall 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 flieth away as a dream, and is not found; and is chased away as 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 shall [see him] not again; and his place beholdeth him no more.
10 His sons will seek the favor of the poor, for his own hands must return his wealth.
His children shall seek the favour of the poor, and his hands restore his wealth.
11 The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie down with him in the dust.
His bones were full of his youthful strength; but it shall lie down with him in the dust.
12 Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue,
Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth [and] he hide it under his tongue,
13 though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth,
[Though] he spare it, and forsake it not, but keep it within his mouth,
14 yet in his stomach his food sours into the venom of cobras within him.
His food is turned in his bowels; it is the gall of asps within him.
15 He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.
He hath swallowed down riches, but he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.
16 He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will kill him.
He shall suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue shall kill him.
17 He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.
He shall not see streams, rivers, brooks of honey and butter.
18 He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits of his trading.
That which he laboured for shall he restore, and not swallow down; its restitution shall be according to the value, and he shall not rejoice [therein].
19 For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.
For he hath oppressed, hath forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away a house that he did not build.
20 Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure.
Because he knew no rest in his craving, he shall save nought of what he most desired.
21 Nothing is left for him to consume; thus his prosperity will not endure.
Nothing escaped his greediness; therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
22 In the midst of his plenty, he will be distressed; the full force of misery will come upon him.
In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits; every hand of the wretched shall come upon him.
23 When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats.
It shall be that, to fill his belly, he will cast his fierce anger upon him, and will rain it upon him into his flesh.
24 Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce him.
If he have fled from the iron weapon, the bow of brass shall strike him through.
25 It is drawn out of his back, the gleaming point from his liver. Terrors come over him.
He draweth it forth; it cometh out of his body, and the glittering point out of his gall: terrors are upon him.
26 Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.
All darkness is laid up for his treasures: a fire not blown shall devour him; it shall feed upon what is left in his tent.
27 The heavens will expose his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.
The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.
28 The possessions of his house will be removed, flowing away on the day of God’s wrath.
The increase of his house shall depart, flowing away in the day of his anger.
29 This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.”
This is the portion of the wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God.
