Job 20

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:

2 “So my anxious thoughts compel me to answer, because of the turmoil within me.

Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of mine agitation that is in me.

3 I have heard a rebuke that insults me, and my understanding prompts a reply.

I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame, but out of my understanding my spirit answereth me.

4 Do you not know that from antiquity, since man was placed on the earth,

Knowest thou not this of old time, since man was placed upon earth,

5 the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?

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

6 Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds,

Though his excellency 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?’

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung; they that 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 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 that saw him will see him no more, and his place will no longer behold him.

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

10 His sons will seek the favor of the poor, for his own hands must return his wealth.

His children shall appease the poor, and his hands shall restore his wealth.

11 The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie down with him in the dust.

His bones are full of his youth, 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, though 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 will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;

14 yet in his stomach his food sours into the venom of cobras within him.

Yet his food in his bowels is turned, 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, and 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 slay him.

17 He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.

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

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 give back, and shall not swallow it down; according to the substance that he hath gotten, he shall not rejoice.

19 For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.

For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.

20 Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure.

Because he knew no quietness within him, in his greed he suffered nought to escape,

21 Nothing is left for him to consume; thus his prosperity will not endure.

There was nothing left that he devoured not — 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; the hand of every one that is in misery 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 for the filling of his belly; He shall cast the fierceness of His wrath upon him, and shall cause it to rain upon him into his flesh.

24 Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce him.

If he flee 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, and it cometh out of his body; yea, the glittering point cometh 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 by man shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that 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, his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

29 This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.”

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