Job 20

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

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

"Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.

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

I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame. The spirit of my understanding answers me.

4 Know you not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

Do you not know this from old time, since humankind was placed on earth,

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

that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?

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

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

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

yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen 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.

He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found. Yes, he shall be chased away like a vision of the night.

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

The eye which saw him shall see him no more, neither shall his place any more see him.

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

His children shall seek the favor of the poor. His hands shall give back his wealth.

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

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

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

"Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,

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

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

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

yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him.

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

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

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

He shall suck cobra venom. The viper's tongue shall kill him.

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

He shall not look at the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.

18 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.

That for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.

19 Because he has oppressed and has forsaken the poor; because he has violently taken away an house which he built not;

For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.

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

"Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save anything of that in which he delights.

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

There was nothing left that he did not devour, therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

22 In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.

In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress shall overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come on him.

23 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.

When he is about to fill his belly, he will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.

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

He shall flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow shall strike him through.

25 It is drawn, and comes out of the body; yea, the glittering sword comes out of his gall: terrors are upon him.

He draws it forth, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on him.

26 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.

All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent.

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

The heavens shall reveal his iniquity. The earth shall rise up against him.

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

The increase of his house shall depart. They shall rush away in the day of his wrath.

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

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