< Job 20 >

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite and saide,
Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2 Doubtlesse my thoughts cause me to answere, and therefore I make haste.
Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.
3 I haue heard the correction of my reproch: therefore the spirite of mine vnderstanding causeth me to answere.
I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame, and the spirit of my understanding answereth me.
4 Knowest thou not this of olde? and since God placed man vpon the earth,
Knowest thou [not] this of old time, since man was placed upon earth,
5 That the reioycing of the wicked is short, and that the ioy of hypocrites is but a moment?
That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment?
6 Though his excellencie mount vp to the heauen, and his head reache vnto the cloudes,
Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;
7 Yet shall hee perish for euer, like his dung, and they which haue seene him, shall say, Where is hee?
Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?
8 He shall flee away as a dreame, and they shall not finde him, and shall passe 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 So that the eye which had seene him, shall do so no more, and his place shall see him no more.
The eye which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.
10 His children shall flatter the poore, and his hands shall restore his substance.
His children shall seek the favour of the poor, and his hands shall give back his wealth.
11 His bones are full of the sinne of his youth, and it shall lie downe with him in the dust.
His bones are full of his youth, but it shall lie down with him in the dust.
12 When wickednesse was sweete in his mouth, and he hid it vnder his tongue,
Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;
13 And fauoured it, and would not forsake it, but kept it close in his mouth,
Though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;
14 Then his meat in his bowels was turned: the gall of Aspes was in the middes of him.
Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.
15 He hath deuoured substance, and hee shall vomit it: for God shall drawe it out of his bellie.
He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.
16 He shall sucke the gall of Aspes, and the vipers tongue shall slay him.
He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.
17 He shall not see the riuers, nor the floods and streames of honie and butter.
He shall not look upon the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.
18 He shall restore the labour, and shall deuoure no more: euen according to the substance shalbe his exchange, and he shall enioy it no more.
That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down; according to the substance that he hath gotten, he shall not rejoice.
19 For he hath vndone many: he hath forsaken the poore, and hath spoyled houses which he builded not.
For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away an house, and he shall not build it up.
20 Surely he shall feele no quietnes in his bodie, neither shall he reserue of that which he desired.
Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save aught of that wherein he delighteth.
21 There shall none of his meate bee left: therefore none shall hope for his goods.
There was nothing left that he devoured not; therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
22 When he shalbe filled with his abundance, he shalbe in paine, and the hand of all the wicked shall assaile him.
In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: the hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon him.
23 He shall be about to fill his belly, but God shall sende vpon him his fierce wrath, and shall cause to rayne vpon him, euen vpon his meate.
When he is about to fill his belly, [God] shall cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.
24 He shall flee from the yron weapons, and the bow of steele shall strike him through.
He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of brass shall strike him through.
25 The arrowe is drawen out, and commeth forth of the body, and shineth of his gall, so feare commeth vpon him.
He draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body: yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall; terrors are upon him.
26 All darkenes shalbe hid in his secret places: the fire that is not blowen, shall deuoure him, and that which remaineth in his tabernacle, shalbe destroyed.
All darkness is laid up for his treasures: a fire not blown [by man] shall devour him; it shall consume that which is left in his tent.
27 The heauen shall declare his wickednes, and the earth shall rise vp against him.
The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.
28 The increase of his house shall go away: it shall flow away in the day of his wrath.
The increase of his house shall depart, [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 that he shall haue of God for his wordes.
This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.

< Job 20 >