Job 20

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

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

“My thoughts make me answer quickly because of the worry that is in me.

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

I hear a rebuke that dishonors me, but a spirit from my understanding answers me.

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

Do you not know this fact from ancient times, when God placed man on earth:

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

the triumph of a wicked man is short, and the joy of a godless man lasts only for a moment?

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

Though his height reaches up to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds,

7 yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him shall say, 'Where is he?'

yet such a person will perish permanently like his own feces; those who have seen him will 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 will fly away like a dream and will not be found; indeed, he will be chased away like a vision of the night.

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

The eye that saw him will see him no more; his place will see him no longer.

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

His children will apologize to poor people; his hands will have to 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 youthful strength, but it will lie down with him in the dust.

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

Although wickedness is sweet in his mouth, although he hides it under his tongue,

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

although he holds it there and does not let it go but keeps it still in his mouth—

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

the food in his intestines turns bitter; it becomes the poison of asps inside him.

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

He swallows down riches, but he will vomit them up again; God will cast them out of his stomach.

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

He will suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue will kill him.

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

He will not enjoy the streams, the torrents of honey and butter.

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.

He will give back the fruit of his labor and will not be able to eat it; he will not enjoy the wealth earned by his commerce.

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

For he has oppressed and neglected poor people; he has violently taken away houses that 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 has known no satisfaction himself, he will not be able to save anything in which he takes pleasure.

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

There is nothing left that he did not devour; therefore his prosperity will not be permanent.

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 abundance of his wealth he will fall into trouble; the hand of everyone who is in poverty will come against 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.

When he is about to fill his stomach, God will throw the fierceness of his wrath on him; God will rain it down on him while he is eating.

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

Although that man will flee from the iron weapon, a bow of bronze will shoot him.

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 pulls it out of his back and the gleaming point comes out of his liver. Terrors come over 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.

Complete darkness is reserved for his treasures; a fire not fanned will devour him; it will consume what is left in his tent.

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

The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him as a witness.

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

The wealth of his house will vanish; his goods will flow away on the day of God's wrath.

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

This is the wicked man's portion from God, the heritage reserved for him by God.”