Job 20

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:

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

For this do my thoughts lead me to reply, And for this is my ardor within me.

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

I have heard my shameful rebuke; And the spirit, from my understanding, answereth for me.

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

Knowest thou not, that from the days of old, From the time when man was placed upon the earth,

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

The triumphing of the wicked hath been short, And the joy of the impious but for a moment?

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

Though his greatness mount up to the heavens, And his head reach to the clouds,

7 yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen 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 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found. Yes, he shall be chased away 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 which saw him shall see him no more, neither shall his place any more see him.

The eye also which saw him shall see him no more, And his dwelling-place shall never more behold him.

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

His sons shall seek the favor of the poor, And their hands shall give back his wealth.

11 His bones are full of his youth, but youth 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 wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,

Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, Though he 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 cherish it, and will not part with it, And keep it fast in his mouth,

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

Yet his meat shall be changed within him, And become to him the poison of asps.

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

He hath glutted himself with riches, And he shall throw them up again; Yea, God shall cast them out of his body.

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

He shall suck the poison of asps; The tongue of the viper shall destroy him.

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

He shall never see the flowing streams, And the rivers of honey and milk.

18 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.

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

Because he hath oppressed and abandoned the poor, And seized upon the house which he did not build;

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

Because he knew no rest in his bosom, He shall not save that in which he delighteth.

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

Because nothing escaped his greediness, His prosperity shall not endure.

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

In the fulness of his abundance he shall be brought low; Every hand of the wretched shall come upon him.

23 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.

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

If he fleeth from the iron weapon, The bow of brass shall pierce him through.

25 He draws it forth, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on 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 All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent.

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

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

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

The substance of his house shall disappear; It shall flow away in the day of His wrath.

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

Such is the portion of the wicked man from God, And the inheritance appointed for him by the Almighty.