Job 20
1 Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,
Then answered Zophar the Na'amathite, and said,
2 I did not suppose that thou wouldest answer thus: neither do ye understand more than I.
Even therefore do my inmost thoughts give me an answer, and for this reason do I feel a strong excitement within me.
3 I will hear my shameful reproach; and the spirit of my understanding answers me.
Reproof which casteth shame on me must I hear; yet out of my understanding will the spirit give me an answer.
4 Hast thou [not] known these things of old, from the time that man was set upon the earth?
Dost thou know this? from the very beginning of things, from the very time when man was placed upon earth it was,
5 But the mirth of the ungodly is a signal downfall, and the joy of transgressors is destruction:
That the triumphal shouting of the wicked is ever of but a recent date, and the joy of the hypocrite endureth only for a moment.
6 although his gifts should go up to heaven, and his sacrifice reach the clouds.
Though his exaltation should mount up to the heavens, and his head should reach unto the clouds;
7 For when he shall seem to be now established, then he shall utterly perish: and they that knew him shall say, Where is he?
Yet when he but turneth round will he vanish for ever; those who have seen him will say, Where is he?
8 Like a dream that has fled away, he shall not be found; and he has fled like a vision of the night.
Like a dream will he fly away, and men will find him no more; yea, he will be chased away like a vision of the night.
9 The eye has looked upon him, but shall not [see him] again; and his place shall no longer perceive him.
If an eye have surveyed him, it will not do so again, and it will not behold him any more in his place.
10 Let [his] inferiors destroy his children, and let his hands kindle the fire of sorrow.
His children will suffer oppression from the indigent, and his hands will have to restore his [ill-gotten] wealth.
11 His bones have been filled with [vigour of] his youth, and it shall lie down with him in the dust.
[Now] his bones are full of his youthful vigor; but it will [suddenly] lie down with him in the dust.
12 Though evil be sweet in his mouth, [though] he will hide it under his tongue;
If the evil be sweet in his mouth, he will conceal it under his tongue;
13 though he will not spare it, and will not leave it, but will keep it in the midst of his throat:
He will cherish it, and not forsake it; and hold it back within his palate;
14 yet he shall not at all be able to help himself; the gall of an asp is in his belly.
His food is thus changed within his bowels, and becometh the venom of asps within him.
15 [His] wealth unjustly collected shall be vomited up; a messenger [of wrath] shall drag him out of his house.
The wealth which he hath swallowed, will he have to vomit up again; God will drive it out of his belly.
16 And let him suck the poison of serpents, and let the serpent's tongue slay him.
The poison of asps will he have to suck; the viper's tongue will slay him.
17 Let him not see the milk of the pastures, nor the supplies of honey and butter.
He shall not look with pleasure on streams, on flowing brooks of honey and cream.
18 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 cannot swallow.
He restoreth what he hath labored for, and will not swallow it down; however much he may have obtained by toil, he will not have any joy of it.
19 For he has broken down the houses of many mighty men: and he has plundered an habitation, though he built [it] not.
Because he oppressed and forsook the indigent; because he took violently away a house, shall he not rebuild it;
20 There is no security to his possessions; he shall not be saved by his desire.
Because he knew not quietness in his bosom, shall he not escape through what is the most precious to him.
21 There is nothing remaining of his provisions; therefore his goods shall not flourish.
Nothing was spared from his craving to eat: therefore shall his wealth not prosper.
22 But when he shall seem to be just satisfied, he shall be straitened; and all distress shall come upon him.
In the fulness of his abundance will distress assail him: every hand of [those he] troubled will come against him.
23 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.
In order to fill his belly, [God] will send out against him the fury of his wrath, and will rain it upon him for his eating.
24 And he shall by no means escape from the power of the sword; let the brazen bow wound him.
If he flee from the iron weapon, the brazen bow will strike him through.
25 And let the arrow pierce through his body; and let the stars be against his dwelling-place: let terrors come upon him.
He draweth it, and it cometh out of the body; yea, out of his gall the glittering [arrow] cometh forth: over him come the terrors [of death].
26 And let all darkness wait for him: a fire that burns not out shall consume him; and let a stranger plague his house.
Entire darkness is laid by for his treasures: a fire not urged by blowing will consume him; it will destroy any one that is left in his tent.
27 And let the heaven reveal his iniquities, and the earth rise up against him.
The heavens will lay open his iniquity; and the earth will raise herself up against him.
28 Let destruction bring his house to an end; let a day of wrath come upon him.
The product of his house will be banished, flowing away on the day of his wrath.
29 This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of his goods [appointed him] by the all-seeing [God].
This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and his decreed heritage from God.
