Job 20
1 And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,
Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,
2 Therefore do my thoughts give me an answer, and for this is my haste within me.
“My thoughts make me answer quickly because of the worry that is in me.
3 I hear a reproof putting me to shame; and [my] spirit answereth me by mine understanding.
I hear a rebuke that dishonors me, but a spirit from my understanding answers me.
4 Knowest thou [not] this, that of old, since man was placed upon earth,
Do you not know this fact from ancient times, when God placed man on earth:
5 The exultation of the wicked is short, and the joy of the ungodly man but for a moment?
the triumph of a wicked man is short, and the joy of a godless man lasts only for a moment?
6 Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds,
Though his height reaches up to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds,
7 Like his own dung doth he perish for ever; they which have seen him shall say, 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 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 and will not be found; indeed, he will be chased away like 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 that saw him will see him no more; his place will see him no longer.
10 His children shall seek the favour of the poor, and his hands restore his wealth.
His children will apologize to poor people; his hands will have to give back his wealth.
11 His bones were full of his youthful strength; but it shall 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 wickedness be sweet in his mouth [and] he hide it under his tongue,
Although wickedness is sweet in his mouth, although he hides it under his tongue,
13 [Though] he spare it, and forsake it not, but keep it within his mouth,
although he holds it there and does not let it go but keeps it still in his mouth—
14 His food is turned in his bowels; it is the gall of asps within him.
the food in his intestines turns bitter; it becomes the poison of asps inside him.
15 He hath swallowed down riches, but he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.
He swallows down riches, but he will vomit them up again; God will cast them out of his stomach.
16 He shall suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue shall kill him.
He will suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue will kill him.
17 He shall not see streams, rivers, brooks of honey and butter.
He will not enjoy the streams, the torrents 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].
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 hath oppressed, hath forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away a house that 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 he knew no rest in his craving, he shall save nought of what he most desired.
Because he has known no satisfaction himself, he will not be able to save anything in which he takes pleasure.
21 Nothing escaped his greediness; therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
There is nothing left that he did not devour; therefore his prosperity will not be permanent.
22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits; every hand of the wretched shall 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 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 stomach, God will throw the fierceness of his wrath on him; God will rain it down on him while he is eating.
24 If he have fled from the iron weapon, the bow of brass shall strike him through.
Although that man will flee from the iron weapon, a bow of bronze will shoot him.
25 He draweth it forth; it cometh out of his body, and the glittering point out of his gall: terrors are upon him.
He pulls it out of his back and the gleaming point comes out of 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.
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 shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.
The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him as a witness.
28 The increase of his house shall depart, flowing away in the day of his anger.
The wealth of his house will vanish; his goods will flow 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 heritage reserved for him by God.”
