Job 20

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

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

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

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

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

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

Hast you [not] known these things of old, from the time that man was set upon the earth?

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

But the mirth of the ungodly is a signal downfall, and the joy of transgressors is destruction:

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

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

7 yet such a person will perish permanently like his own feces; those who have seen him will 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 will fly away like a dream and will not be found; indeed, he will 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 that saw him will see him no more; his place will see him no longer.

The eye has looked upon him, but shall not [see him] again; and his place shall no longer perceive him.

10 His children will apologize to poor people; his hands will have to 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 youthful strength, but it will 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 Although wickedness is sweet in his mouth, although he hides it under his tongue,

Though evil be sweet in his mouth, [though] he will 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 will not spare it, and will not leave it, but will keep it in the midst of his throat:

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

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

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

[His] wealth unjustly collected shall be vomited up; a messenger [of wrath] shall drag him out of his house.

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

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

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

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

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 neglected poor people; he has violently taken away houses that he did not build.

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

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

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

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

22 In the abundance of his wealth he will fall into trouble; the hand of everyone who is in poverty will come against 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 stomach, God will throw the fierceness of his wrath on him; God will rain it down 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 Although that man will flee from the iron weapon, a bow of bronze will shoot him.

And he shall by no means escape from the power of the sword; let the brazen bow wound him.

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

And let the arrow pierce through his body; and let the stars be against his dwelling-place: let terrors come 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.

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

And let the heaven reveal his iniquities, and the earth rise up against him.

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

Let destruction bring his house to an end; let a day of wrath come upon him.

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