Job 20

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:

2 Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for [this] I make haste.

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

3 I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.

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

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

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

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

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

6 Though his excellence shall mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds;

Though his greatness mount up to the heavens, And his head reach to the clouds,

7 [Yet] he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they who have seen him shall 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 shall fly away as a dream, and will not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as 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 also [which] saw him shall [see him] no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

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

10 His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.

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

11 His bones are full [of the sin] of his youth, which shall 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 Though wickedness may be sweet in his mouth, [though] he may hide it under his tongue;

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

13 [Though] he may spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:

Though he cherish it, and will not part with it, And keep it fast in his mouth,

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

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

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

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

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

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

17 He shall not see the river, the floods, the brooks of honey and buttermilk.

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

18 That which he labored for shall he restore, and shall not swallow [it]: according to [his] substance [shall] the restitution [be], and he shall not rejoice [in it].

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 Because he hath oppressed [and] hath forsaken the poor; [because] he hath violently taken away a house which he did not build.

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

20 Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.

Because he knew no rest in his bosom, He shall not save that in which he delighteth.

21 There shall none of his food be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.

Because nothing escaped his greediness, His prosperity shall not endure.

22 In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon 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 belly, [God] shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain [it] upon 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 He shall flee from the iron weapon, [and] the bow of steel shall strike him through.

If he fleeth from the iron weapon, The bow of brass shall pierce him through.

25 It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yes, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors [are] upon 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 All darkness [shall be] hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.

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 heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.

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

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

The substance of his house shall disappear; It shall flow away in the day of His wrath.

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

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