Job 20
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,
2 “So my anxious thoughts compel me to answer, because of the turmoil within me.
“I'm forced to reply because I'm really upset!
3 I have heard a rebuke that insults me, and my understanding prompts a reply.
What I hear you say insults me, but I know how to reply to you!
4 Do you not know that from antiquity, since man was placed on the earth,
Don't you know that since ancient times, since human beings were put on this earth,
5 the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?
that the triumph of the wicked doesn't last long, that those who reject God are only happy for a short time?
6 Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds,
Even though they are so tall they reach the heavens, even though their heads reach the clouds,
7 he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’
they will vanish forever like their own excrement. People who knew them will ask, ‘Where have they gone?’
8 He will fly away like a dream, never to be found; he will be chased away like a vision in the night.
They will vanish like a dream, never to be found, fleeing 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.
Those who once saw them will not see them anymore; their families will never set eyes on them again.
10 His sons will seek the favor of the poor, for his own hands must return his wealth.
Their children will have to pay back the poor; they will have to return their wealth.
11 The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie down with him in the dust.
Though the wicked have bodies that are young and strong, they will die and be buried.
12 Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue,
Though evil tastes sweet in their mouths and they hide it under their tongues,
13 though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth,
not letting it go but keeping it in their mouths,
14 yet in his stomach his food sours into the venom of cobras within him.
in their stomachs it turns bitter, becoming like snake venom inside them.
15 He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.
They swallow wealth and vomit it up again; God forces it from their stomachs.
16 He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will kill him.
They suck in snake venom; the bite of the viper will kill them.
17 He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.
They will not live to enjoy the streams, the rivers of milk and honey.
18 He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits of his trading.
They will have to give back what they have gained and will not have any benefit; they will not enjoy any of their profits.
19 For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.
For they have oppressed and abandoned the poor; they have seized houses they did not build.
20 Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure.
Because their greed was never satisfied, nothing they liked is left that they didn't consume.
21 Nothing is left for him to consume; thus his prosperity will not endure.
Nothing escapes their ravenous appetites, so their happiness doesn't last long.
22 In the midst of his plenty, he will be distressed; the full force of misery will come upon him.
Even when the wicked have all that they want they run into trouble; all kinds of misery will fall upon them.
23 When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats.
While they are busy filling their bellies, God's hostility will burn against them, raining down on them.
24 Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce him.
As they flee to escape an iron weapon, a bronze arrow will strike them down.
25 It is drawn out of his back, the gleaming point from his liver. Terrors come over him.
The arrow is pulled out of their gall bladder, glistening with blood. They are absolutely terrified!
26 Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.
All they value will disappear into the darkness; divine fire will destroy them; all they have left will go up in smoke.
27 The heavens will expose his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.
The heavens reveal what they have done wrong; the earth will rise up against them.
28 The possessions of his house will be removed, flowing away on the day of God’s wrath.
All their possessions will be carried from their homes; they will be dragged off on the day of God's judgment.
29 This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.”
This is the share the wicked receive from God, the inheritance God says they should have.”
