Job 20
1 Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,
Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:
2 I did not suppose that you would answer thus: neither do you understand more than I.
For this do my thoughts lead me to reply, And for this is my ardor within me.
3 I will hear my shameful reproach; and the spirit of my understanding answers me.
I have heard my shameful rebuke; And the spirit, from my understanding, answereth for me.
4 Hast you [not] known these things of old, from the time that man was set upon the earth?
Knowest thou not, that from the days of old, From the time when man was placed upon the earth,
5 But the mirth of the ungodly is a signal downfall, and the joy of transgressors is destruction:
The triumphing of the wicked hath been short, And the joy of the impious but for a moment?
6 although his gifts should go up to heaven, and his sacrifice reach the clouds.
Though his greatness mount up to the heavens, And his head reach to the clouds,
7 For when he shall seem to be now established, then he shall utterly perish: and they that knew him shall say, Where is he?
Yet shall he perish for ever, and be mingled with dust; They who saw him shall say, Where is he?
8 Like a dream that has fled away, he shall not be found; and he has fled 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 The eye has looked upon him, but shall not [see him] again; and his place shall no longer perceive him.
The eye also which saw him shall see him no more, And his dwelling-place shall never more behold him.
10 Let [his] inferiors destroy his children, and let his hands kindle the fire of sorrow.
His sons shall seek the favor of the poor, And their hands shall give back his wealth.
11 His bones have been filled with [vigour of] his youth, and it shall lie down with him in the dust.
His bones are full of his youth, But they shall lie down with him in the dust.
12 Though evil be sweet in his mouth, [though] he will hide it under his tongue;
Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, Though he hide it under his tongue,
13 though he will not spare it, and will not leave it, but will keep it in the midst of his throat:
Though he cherish it, and will not part with it, And keep it fast in his mouth,
14 yet he shall not at all be able to help himself; the gall of an asp is in his belly.
Yet his meat shall be changed within him, And become to him the poison of asps.
15 [His] wealth unjustly collected shall be vomited up; a messenger [of wrath] shall drag him out of his house.
He hath glutted himself with riches, And he shall throw them up again; Yea, God shall cast them out of his body.
16 And let him suck the poison of serpents, and let the serpent's tongue kill him.
He shall suck the poison of asps; The tongue of the viper shall destroy him.
17 Let him not see the milk of the pastures, nor the supplies of honey and butter.
He shall never see the flowing streams, And the rivers of honey and milk.
18 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 can’t swallow.
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 he has broken down the houses of many mighty men: and he has plundered an habitation, though he built [it] not.
Because he hath oppressed and abandoned the poor, And seized upon the house which he did not build;
20 There is no security to his possessions; he shall not be saved by his desire.
Because he knew no rest in his bosom, He shall not save that in which he delighteth.
21 There is nothing remaining of his provisions; therefore his goods shall not flourish.
Because nothing escaped his greediness, His prosperity shall not endure.
22 But when he shall seem to be just satisfied, he shall be straitened; and all distress shall come upon him.
In the fulness of his abundance he shall be brought low; Every hand of the wretched shall come upon him.
23 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.
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 And he shall by no means escape from the power of the sword; let the brazen bow wound him.
If he fleeth from the iron weapon, The bow of brass shall pierce him through.
25 And let the arrow pierce through his body; and let the stars be against his dwelling-place: let terrors come upon him.
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 And let all darkness wait for him: a fire that burns not out shall consume him; and let a stranger plague his house.
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 And let the heaven reveal his iniquities, and the earth rise up against him.
The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, And the earth shall rise up against him.
28 Let destruction bring his house to an end; let a day of wrath come upon him.
The substance of his house shall disappear; It shall flow away in the day of His wrath.
29 This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of his goods [appointed him] by the all-seeing [God].
Such is the portion of the wicked man from God, And the inheritance appointed for him by the Almighty.
