Job 20

1 And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

THEN answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2 Therefore do my thoughts give me an answer, and for this is my haste within me.

Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.

3 I hear a reproof putting me to shame; and [my] spirit answereth me by mine understanding.

I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.

4 Knowest thou [not] this, that of old, since man was placed upon earth,

Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

5 The exultation of the wicked is short, and the joy of the ungodly man but for a moment?

That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

6 Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds,

Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

7 Like his own dung doth he perish for ever; they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, 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 shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

9 The eye which saw him shall [see him] not again; and his place beholdeth him no more.

The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

10 His children shall seek the favour of the poor, and his hands restore his wealth.

His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.

11 His bones were full of his youthful strength; but it shall lie down with him in the dust.

His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.

12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth [and] he hide it under his tongue,

Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;

13 [Though] he spare it, and forsake it not, but keep it within his mouth,

Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:

14 His food is turned in his bowels; it is the gall of asps within him.

Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.

15 He hath swallowed down riches, but he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

16 He shall suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue shall kill him.

He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.

17 He shall not see streams, rivers, brooks of honey and butter.

He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.

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].

That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.

19 For he hath oppressed, hath forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away a house that he did not build.

Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;

20 Because he knew no rest in his craving, he shall save nought of what he most desired.

Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.

21 Nothing escaped his greediness; therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.

22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits; every hand of the wretched shall come upon him.

In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall 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 is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.

24 If he have fled from the iron weapon, the bow of brass shall strike him through.

He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.

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, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon 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.

All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.

27 The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.

The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.

28 The increase of his house shall depart, flowing away in the day of his anger.

The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

29 This is the portion of the wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God.

This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.