Job 20

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite made answer and said,

Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

2 For this cause my thoughts are troubling me and driving me on.

I did not suppose that you would answer thus: neither do you understand more than I.

3 I have to give ear to arguments which put me to shame, and your answers to me are wind without wisdom.

I will hear my shameful reproach; and the spirit of my understanding answers me.

4 Have you knowledge of this from early times, when man was placed on the earth,

Hast you [not] known these things of old, from the time that man was set upon the earth?

5 That the pride of the sinner is short, and the joy of the evil-doer but for a minute?

But the mirth of the ungodly is a signal downfall, and the joy of transgressors is destruction:

6 Though he is lifted up to the heavens, and his head goes up to the clouds;

although his gifts should go up to heaven, and his sacrifice reach the clouds.

7 Like the waste from his body he comes to an end for ever: those who have seen him say, Where is he?

For when he shall seem to be now established, then he shall utterly perish: and they that knew him shall say, Where is he?

8 He is gone like a dream, and is not seen again; he goes in flight like a vision of the night.

Like a dream that has fled away, he shall not be found; and he has fled like a vision of the night.

9 The eye which saw him sees him no longer; and his place has no more knowledge of him.

The eye has looked upon him, but shall not [see him] again; and his place shall no longer perceive him.

10 His children are hoping that the poor will be kind to them, and his hands give back his wealth.

Let [his] inferiors destroy his children, and let his hands kindle the fire of sorrow.

11 His bones are full of young strength, but it will go down with him into the dust.

His bones have been filled with [vigour of] his youth, and it shall lie down with him in the dust.

12 Though evil-doing is sweet in his mouth, and he keeps it secretly under his tongue;

Though evil be sweet in his mouth, [though] he will hide it under his tongue;

13 Though he takes care of it, and does not let it go, but keeps it still in his mouth;

though he will not spare it, and will not leave it, but will keep it in the midst of his throat:

14 His food becomes bitter in his stomach; the poison of snakes is inside him.

yet he shall not at all be able to help himself; the gall of an asp is in his belly.

15 He takes down wealth as food, and sends it up again; it is forced out of his stomach by God.

[His] wealth unjustly collected shall be vomited up; a messenger [of wrath] shall drag him out of his house.

16 He takes the poison of snakes into his mouth, the tongue of the snake is the cause of his death.

And let him suck the poison of serpents, and let the serpent's tongue kill him.

17 Let him not see the rivers of oil, the streams of honey and milk.

Let him not see the milk of the pastures, nor the supplies of honey and butter.

18 He is forced to give back the fruit of his work, and may not take it for food; he has no joy in the profit of his trading.

He has laboured unprofitably and in vain, [for] wealth of which he shall not taste: [it is] as a lean thing, unfit for food, which he can’t swallow.

19 Because he has been cruel to the poor, turning away from them in their trouble; because he has taken a house by force which he did not put up;

For he has broken down the houses of many mighty men: and he has plundered an habitation, though he built [it] not.

20 There is no peace for him in his wealth, and no salvation for him in those things in which he took delight.

There is no security to his possessions; he shall not be saved by his desire.

21 He had never enough for his desire; for this cause his well-being will quickly come to an end.

There is nothing remaining of his provisions; therefore his goods shall not flourish.

22 Even when his wealth is great, he is full of care, for the hand of everyone who is in trouble is turned against him.

But when he shall seem to be just satisfied, he shall be straitened; and all distress shall come upon him.

23 God gives him his desire, and sends the heat of his wrath on him, making it come down on him like rain.

If by any means he would fill his belly, let [God] send upon him the fury of wrath; let him bring a torrent of pains upon him.

24 He may go in flight from the iron spear, but the arrow from the bow of brass will go through him;

And he shall by no means escape from the power of the sword; let the brazen bow wound him.

25 He is pulling it out, and it comes out of his back; and its shining point comes out of his side; he is overcome by fears.

And let the arrow pierce through his body; and let the stars be against his dwelling-place: let terrors come upon him.

26 All his wealth is stored up for the dark: a fire not made by man sends destruction on him, and on everything in his tent.

And let all darkness wait for him: a fire that burns not out shall consume him; and let a stranger plague his house.

27 The heavens make clear his sin, and the earth gives witness against him.

And let the heaven reveal his iniquities, and the earth rise up against him.

28 The produce of his house is taken away into another country, like things given into the hands of others in the day of wrath.

Let destruction bring his house to an end; let a day of wrath come upon him.

29 This is the reward of the evil man, and the heritage given to him by God.

This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of his goods [appointed him] by the all-seeing [God].