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.
“My thoughts make me answer quickly because of the worry that is in me.
3 I have heard a rebuke that insults me, and my understanding prompts a reply.
I hear a rebuke that dishonors me, but a spirit from my understanding answers me.
4 Do you not know that from antiquity, since man was placed on the earth,
Do you not know this fact from ancient times, when God placed man on earth:
5 the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?
the triumph of a wicked man is short, and the joy of a godless man lasts only for a moment?
6 Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds,
Though his height reaches up to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds,
7 he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’
yet such a person will perish permanently like his own feces; those who have seen him will 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 will fly away like a dream and will not be found; indeed, he will 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 that saw him will see him no more; his place will see him no longer.
10 His sons will seek the favor of the poor, for his own hands must return his wealth.
His children will apologize to poor people; his hands will have to 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 youthful strength, but it will lie down with him in the dust.
12 Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue,
Although wickedness is sweet in his mouth, although he hides it under his tongue,
13 though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth,
although he holds it there 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.
the food in his intestines turns bitter; it becomes the poison of asps inside him.
15 He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.
He swallows down riches, but he will vomit them up again; God will cast them out of his stomach.
16 He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will kill him.
He will suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue will kill him.
17 He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.
He will not enjoy the streams, the torrents of honey and butter.
18 He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits of his trading.
He will give back the fruit of his labor and will not be able to eat it; he will not enjoy the wealth earned by his commerce.
19 For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.
For he has oppressed and neglected poor people; he has violently taken away houses that he did not build.
20 Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure.
Because he has known no satisfaction himself, he will not be able to save anything in which he takes pleasure.
21 Nothing is left for him to consume; thus his prosperity will not endure.
There is nothing left that he did not devour; therefore his prosperity will not be permanent.
22 In the midst of his plenty, he will be distressed; the full force of misery will come upon him.
In the abundance of his wealth he will fall into trouble; the hand of everyone who is in poverty will come against 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 stomach, God will throw the fierceness of his wrath on him; God will rain it down on him while he is eating.
24 Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce him.
Although that man will flee from the iron weapon, a bow of bronze will shoot him.
25 It is drawn out of his back, the gleaming point from his liver. Terrors come over him.
He pulls it out of his back and the gleaming point comes out of his liver. Terrors come over him.
26 Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.
Complete darkness is reserved for his treasures; a fire not fanned will devour him; it will consume what is left in his tent.
27 The heavens will expose his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.
The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him as a witness.
28 The possessions of his house will be removed, flowing away on the day of God’s wrath.
The wealth of his house will vanish; his goods will flow away on the day of God's wrath.
29 This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.”
This is the wicked man's portion from God, the heritage reserved for him by God.”
