Job 20

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

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

“Therefore my thoughts answer me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.

3 I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame, and the spirit of my understanding answereth me.

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

4 Knowest thou [not] this of old time, since man was placed upon earth,

Don’t you know this from old time, since man was placed on earth,

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

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

6 Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach 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 he will perish forever like his own dung. 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 as a dream, and will not be found. Yes, 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 which saw him will see him no more, neither will his place see him any more.

10 His children shall seek the favour of the poor, and his hands shall give back his wealth.

His children will seek the favor of the poor. His hands will 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 his youth, but youth will lie down with him in the dust.

12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;

“Though wickedness is 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 spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth,

14 Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.

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

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

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

16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.

He will suck cobra venom. 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 look at the rivers, the flowing streams 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 restore that for which he labored, and will not swallow it down. He will not rejoice according to the substance that he has gotten.

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

20 Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save aught of that wherein he delighteth.

“Because he knew no quietness within him, he will not save anything of that in which he delights.

21 There was nothing left that he devoured not; therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

There was nothing left that he didn’t devour, therefore his prosperity will not endure.

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 fullness of his sufficiency, distress will overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery will come on 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 belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.

24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of brass shall strike him through.

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

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 draws it out, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on 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.

All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire will devour him. It will consume that which 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. The earth will rise up against him.

28 The increase of his house shall depart, [his goods] shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

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

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

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