Job 20

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

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

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

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

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

4 Knowest thou [not] this of old, 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 hypocrite [but] for a moment?

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

6 Though his excellence shall mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to 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 who 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 will 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 also [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 to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.

His children will seek the favour of the poor. His hands will 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 youth will 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 is 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 spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth,

14 [Yet] his food 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 see the river, the floods, the brooks of honey and buttermilk.

He will not look at the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.

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].

He will restore that for which he laboured, and will not swallow it down. He will not rejoice according to the substance that he has gotten.

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

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

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

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

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

There was nothing left that he didn’t devour, therefore his prosperity will 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 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 fury 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 steel shall strike him through.

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

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 heaven 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, [and 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 to him by God.

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