Job 20

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

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

I did not suppose that you would answer thus: neither do you understand more than I.

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

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

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

Hast you [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, 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 height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,

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

7 yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who 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. Yes, he shall be chased away like 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 see 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 seek the favor of the poor. His hands shall give back 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 youth 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 is 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 cobra venom within him.

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

15 He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will 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 cobra venom. The viper's tongue shall kill him.

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

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

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

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 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, he shall not save anything of that in which he delights.

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

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

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

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

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

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 He shall flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow 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 draws it forth, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on 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. An unfanned fire shall devour him. It shall consume that which 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. 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. They shall rush 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, the heritage appointed to 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].