Job 20
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,
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 my haste 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 puts me to shame. The spirit of my understanding answers me.
4 Do you not know that from antiquity, since man was placed on the earth,
Do you not know this from old time, since humankind was placed on 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, the joy of the godless 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 to 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 forever like his own dung. Those who 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. Yes, he shall be chased away 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 shall see him no more, neither shall his place any more see him.
10 His sons will seek the favor of the poor, for his own hands must return his wealth.
His children shall seek the favor of the poor. His hands shall 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 his youth, but youth 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 is 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 cobra venom within him.
15 He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.
He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will 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 cobra venom. The viper's tongue shall kill him.
17 He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.
He shall not look at the rivers, the flowing streams 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 for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.
19 For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.
For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has 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, he shall not save anything of that in which he delights.
21 Nothing is left for him to consume; thus his prosperity will not endure.
There was nothing left that he did not devour, 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 fullness of his sufficiency, distress shall overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come on him.
23 When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats.
When he is about to fill his belly, he will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.
24 Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce him.
He shall flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow shall strike him through.
25 It is drawn out of his back, the gleaming point from his liver. Terrors come over him.
He draws it forth, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on 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. An unfanned fire shall devour him. It shall consume that which 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. 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. They shall rush 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, the heritage appointed to him by God."
