Job 20
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,
Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:
2 “I'm forced to reply because I'm really upset!
For this do my thoughts lead me to reply, And for this is my ardor within me.
3 What I hear you say insults me, but I know how to reply to you!
I have heard my shameful rebuke; And the spirit, from my understanding, answereth for me.
4 Don't you know that since ancient times, since human beings were put on this earth,
Knowest thou not, that from the days of old, From the time when man was placed upon the earth,
5 that the triumph of the wicked doesn't last long, that those who reject God are only happy for a short time?
The triumphing of the wicked hath been short, And the joy of the impious but for a moment?
6 Even though they are so tall they reach the heavens, even though their heads reach the clouds,
Though his greatness mount up to the heavens, And his head reach to the clouds,
7 they will vanish forever like their own excrement. People who knew them will ask, ‘Where have they gone?’
Yet shall he perish for ever, and be mingled with dust; They who saw him shall say, Where is he?
8 They will vanish like a dream, never to be found, fleeing like a vision of the night.
He shall flee away like a dream, and shall not be found; Yea, he shall disappear like a vision of the nigh.
9 Those who once saw them will not see them anymore; their families will never set eyes on them again.
The eye also which saw him shall see him no more, And his dwelling-place shall never more behold him.
10 Their children will have to pay back the poor; they will have to return their wealth.
His sons shall seek the favor of the poor, And their hands shall give back his wealth.
11 Though the wicked have bodies that are young and strong, they will die and be buried.
His bones are full of his youth, But they shall lie down with him in the dust.
12 Though evil tastes sweet in their mouths and they hide it under their tongues,
Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, Though he hide it under his tongue,
13 not letting it go but keeping it in their mouths,
Though he cherish it, and will not part with it, And keep it fast in his mouth,
14 in their stomachs it turns bitter, becoming like snake venom inside them.
Yet his meat shall be changed within him, And become to him the poison of asps.
15 They swallow wealth and vomit it up again; God forces it from their stomachs.
He hath glutted himself with riches, And he shall throw them up again; Yea, God shall cast them out of his body.
16 They suck in snake venom; the bite of the viper will kill them.
He shall suck the poison of asps; The tongue of the viper shall destroy him.
17 They will not live to enjoy the streams, the rivers of milk and honey.
He shall never see the flowing streams, And the rivers of honey and milk.
18 They will have to give back what they have gained and will not have any benefit; they will not enjoy any of their profits.
The fruits of his toil he shall give back, and shall not enjoy them: It is substance to be restored, and he shall not rejoice therein.
19 For they have oppressed and abandoned the poor; they have seized houses they did not build.
Because he hath oppressed and abandoned the poor, And seized upon the house which he did not build;
20 Because their greed was never satisfied, nothing they liked is left that they didn't consume.
Because he knew no rest in his bosom, He shall not save that in which he delighteth.
21 Nothing escapes their ravenous appetites, so their happiness doesn't last long.
Because nothing escaped his greediness, His prosperity shall not endure.
22 Even when the wicked have all that they want they run into trouble; all kinds of misery will fall upon them.
In the fulness of his abundance he shall be brought low; Every hand of the wretched shall come upon him.
23 While they are busy filling their bellies, God's hostility will burn against them, raining down on them.
He shall, indeed, have wherewith to fill himself: God shall send upon him the fury of his anger, And rain it down upon him for his food.
24 As they flee to escape an iron weapon, a bronze arrow will strike them down.
If he fleeth from the iron weapon, The bow of brass shall pierce him through.
25 The arrow is pulled out of their gall bladder, glistening with blood. They are absolutely terrified!
He draweth the arrow, and it cometh forth from his body; Yea, the glittering steel cometh out of his gall. Terrors are upon him;
26 All they value will disappear into the darkness; divine fire will destroy them; all they have left will go up in smoke.
Calamity of every kind is treasured up for him. A fire not blown shall consume him; It shall consume whatever is left in his tent.
27 The heavens reveal what they have done wrong; the earth will rise up against them.
The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, And the earth shall rise up against him.
28 All their possessions will be carried from their homes; they will be dragged off on the day of God's judgment.
The substance of his house shall disappear; It shall flow away in the day of His wrath.
29 This is the share the wicked receive from God, the inheritance God says they should have.”
Such is the portion of the wicked man from God, And the inheritance appointed for him by the Almighty.
