Job 20
1 And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,
Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
2 Therefore do my thoughts give me an answer, and for this is my haste within me.
“So my anxious thoughts compel me to answer, because of the turmoil within me.
3 I hear a reproof putting me to shame; and [my] spirit answereth me by mine understanding.
I have heard a rebuke that insults me, and my understanding prompts a reply.
4 Knowest thou [not] this, that of old, since man was placed upon earth,
Do you not know that from antiquity, since man was placed on the earth,
5 The exultation of the wicked is short, and the joy of the ungodly man but for a moment?
the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?
6 Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds,
Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds,
7 Like his own dung doth he perish for ever; they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?
he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’
8 He flieth away as a dream, and is not found; and is chased away as a vision of the night.
He will fly away like a dream, never to be found; he will be chased away like a vision in the night.
9 The eye which saw him shall [see him] not again; and his place beholdeth him no more.
The eye that saw him will see him no more, and his place will no longer behold him.
10 His children shall seek the favour of the poor, and his hands restore his wealth.
His sons will seek the favor of the poor, for his own hands must return his wealth.
11 His bones were full of his youthful strength; but it shall lie down with him in the dust.
The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie down with him in the dust.
12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth [and] he hide it under his tongue,
Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue,
13 [Though] he spare it, and forsake it not, but keep it within his mouth,
though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth,
14 His food is turned in his bowels; it is the gall of asps within him.
yet in his stomach his food sours into the venom of cobras within him.
15 He hath swallowed down riches, but he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.
He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.
16 He shall suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue shall kill him.
He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will kill him.
17 He shall not see streams, rivers, brooks of honey and butter.
He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.
18 That which he laboured for shall he restore, and not swallow down; its restitution shall be according to the value, and he shall not rejoice [therein].
He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits of his trading.
19 For he hath oppressed, hath forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away a house that he did not build.
For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.
20 Because he knew no rest in his craving, he shall save nought of what he most desired.
Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure.
21 Nothing escaped his greediness; therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
Nothing is left for him to consume; thus his prosperity will not endure.
22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits; every hand of the wretched shall come upon him.
In the midst of his plenty, he will be distressed; the full force of misery will come upon him.
23 It shall be that, to fill his belly, he will cast his fierce anger upon him, and will rain it upon him into his flesh.
When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats.
24 If he have fled from the iron weapon, the bow of brass shall strike him through.
Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce him.
25 He draweth it forth; it cometh out of his body, and the glittering point out of his gall: terrors are upon him.
It is drawn out of his back, the gleaming point from his liver. Terrors come over him.
26 All darkness is laid up for his treasures: a fire not blown shall devour him; it shall feed upon what is left in his tent.
Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.
27 The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.
The heavens will expose his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.
28 The increase of his house shall depart, flowing away in the day of his anger.
The possessions of his house will be removed, flowing away on the day of God’s wrath.
29 This is the portion of the wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God.
This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.”
