Job 20

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

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

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

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

I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame; And the spirit of my understanding answereth me.

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

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

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

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

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

Though his height mount up to the heavens, And his head reach unto the clouds;

7 yet such a person will perish permanently like his own feces; those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: They that have seen him shall say, Where is he?

8 He will fly away like a dream and will not be found; indeed, he will be chased away like a vision of the night.

He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: Yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

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

The eye which saw him shall see him no more; Neither shall his place any more behold him.

10 His children will apologize to poor people; his hands will have to give back his wealth.

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

11 His bones are full of youthful strength, but it will lie down with him in the dust.

His bones are full of his youth, But it shall lie down with him in the dust.

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

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

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

Though he spare it, and will not let it go, But keep it still within his mouth;

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

Yet his food in his bowels is turned, It is the gall of asps within him.

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

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

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

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

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

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

18 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.

That which he labored for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down; According to the substance that he hath gotten, he shall not rejoice.

19 For he has oppressed and neglected poor people; he has violently taken away houses that he did not build.

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

20 Because he has known no satisfaction himself, he will not be able to save anything in which he takes pleasure.

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

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

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

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

In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: The hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon him.

23 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.

When he is about to fill his belly, [God] will cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, And will rain it upon him while he is eating.

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

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

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

He draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body; Yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall: Terrors are upon him.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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