Job 20

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

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 putteth me to shame, and the spirit of my understanding answereth me.

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

4 Knowest thou [not] this of old time, since man was placed upon 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, and 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 excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

Though his height reaches up to the heavens, and his head reaches 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 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: yea, he shall be chased away as 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 behold him.

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

10 His children shall seek the favour of the poor, and 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 it 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 be 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 meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.

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

15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall 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 the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.

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

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

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

18 That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down; according to the substance that he hath 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 hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away an 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 aught of that wherein he delighteth.

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 devoured not; 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 fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: the hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon 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, [God] shall cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon 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, and the bow of brass shall strike him through.

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

25 He draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body: yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall; terrors are upon 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: a fire not blown [by man] 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, and 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, [his goods] shall flow 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, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.

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