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.

For this do my thoughts lead me to reply, And for this is my ardor within me.

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

I have heard my shameful rebuke; And the spirit, from my understanding, answereth for me.

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

Knowest thou not, that from the days of old, From the time when man was placed upon the earth,

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

The triumphing of the wicked hath been short, And the joy of the impious but for a moment?

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

Though his greatness mount up to the heavens, And his head reach to 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 shall he perish for ever, and be mingled with dust; They who saw 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 flee away like a dream, and shall not be found; Yea, he shall disappear like a vision of the nigh.

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

The eye also which saw him shall see him no more, And his dwelling-place shall never more behold him.

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

His sons shall seek the favor of the poor, And their 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 they 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 cherish it, and will not part with it, And keep it fast in his mouth,

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

Yet his meat shall be changed within him, And become to him the poison of asps.

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

He hath glutted himself with riches, And he shall throw them up again; Yea, God shall cast them out of his body.

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

He shall suck the poison of asps; The tongue of the viper shall destroy him.

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

He shall never see the flowing streams, And the rivers of honey and milk.

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.

The fruits of his toil he shall give back, and shall not enjoy them: It is substance to be restored, and he shall not rejoice therein.

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

Because he hath oppressed and abandoned the poor, And seized upon the house which he did not build;

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 rest in his bosom, He shall not save that in which he delighteth.

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

Because nothing escaped his greediness, 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 abundance he shall be brought low; Every hand of the wretched 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.

He shall, indeed, have wherewith to fill himself: God shall send upon him the fury of his anger, And rain it down upon him for his food.

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

If he fleeth from the iron weapon, The bow of brass shall pierce 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 the arrow, and it cometh forth from his body; Yea, the glittering steel 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.

Calamity of every kind is treasured up for him. A fire not blown shall consume him; It shall consume whatever 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 substance of his house shall disappear; It 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.”

Such is the portion of the wicked man from God, And the inheritance appointed for him by the Almighty.