Job 20

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:

Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

2 Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of mine agitation that is in me.

I did not suppose that thou wouldest answer thus: neither do ye understand more than I.

3 I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame, but out of my understanding my spirit answereth me.

I will hear my shameful reproach; and the spirit of my understanding answers me.

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

Hast thou [not] known these things of old, from the time that man was set upon the earth?

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

But the mirth of the ungodly is a signal downfall, and the joy of transgressors is destruction:

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

although his gifts should go up to heaven, and his sacrifice reach the clouds.

7 Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung; they that have seen him shall say: 'Where is he?'

For when he shall seem to be now established, then he shall utterly perish: and they that knew him shall say, Where is he?

8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found; yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

Like a dream that has fled away, he shall not be found; and he has fled like a vision of the night.

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

The eye has looked upon him, but shall not [see him] again; and his place shall no longer perceive him.

10 His children shall appease the poor, and his hands shall restore his wealth.

Let [his] inferiors destroy his children, and let his hands kindle the fire of sorrow.

11 His bones are full of his youth, but it shall lie down with him in the dust.

His bones have been filled with [vigour of] his youth, and it shall lie down with him in the dust.

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

Though evil be sweet in his mouth, [though] he will hide it under his tongue;

13 Though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;

though he will not spare it, and will not leave it, but will keep it in the midst of his throat:

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

yet he shall not at all be able to help himself; the gall of an asp is in his belly.

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

[His] wealth unjustly collected shall be vomited up; a messenger [of wrath] shall drag him out of his house.

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

And let him suck the poison of serpents, and let the serpent's tongue slay him.

17 He shall not look upon the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and curd.

Let him not see the milk of the pastures, nor the supplies of honey and butter.

18 That which he laboured for shall he give back, and shall not swallow it down; according to the substance that he hath gotten, he shall not rejoice.

He has laboured unprofitably and in vain, [for] wealth of which he shall not taste: [it is] as a lean thing, unfit for food, which he cannot swallow.

19 For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.

For he has broken down the houses of many mighty men: and he has plundered an habitation, though he built [it] not.

20 Because he knew no quietness within him, in his greed he suffered nought to escape,

There is no security to his possessions; he shall not be saved by his desire.

21 There was nothing left that he devoured not — therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

There is nothing remaining of his provisions; therefore his goods shall not flourish.

22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits; the hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon him.

But when he shall seem to be just satisfied, he shall be straitened; and all distress shall come upon him.

23 It shall be for the filling of his belly; He shall cast the fierceness of His wrath upon him, and shall cause it to rain upon him into his flesh.

If by any means he would fill his belly, let [God] send upon him the fury of wrath; let him bring a torrent of pains upon him.

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

And he shall by no means escape from the power of the sword; let the brazen bow wound him.

25 He draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body; yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall; terrors are upon him.

And let the arrow pierce through his body; and let the stars be against his dwelling-place: let terrors come upon him.

26 All darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not blown by man shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tent.

And let all darkness wait for him: a fire that burns not out shall consume him; and let a stranger plague his house.

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

And let the heaven reveal his iniquities, and the earth rise up against him.

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

Let destruction bring his house to an end; let a day of wrath come upon him.

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

This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of his goods [appointed him] by the all-seeing [God].