Job 20

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:

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

Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of mine agitation that is in me.

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

I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame, but out of my understanding my spirit answereth me.

4 Don’t you know this from old time, since man was placed on earth,

Knowest thou not this of old time, since man was placed upon earth,

5 that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but 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 mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,

Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

7 yet he will perish forever like his own dung. 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 as a dream, and will not be found. Yes, 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 which saw him will see him no more, neither will his place see him any more.

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

10 His children will seek the favor of the poor. His hands will give back his wealth.

His children shall appease the poor, and his hands shall restore his wealth.

11 His bones are full of his youth, but youth 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 “Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,

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

13 though he spare it, and will not let it go, 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 cobra venom within him.

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

15 He has swallowed down riches, and he will vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.

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

16 He will suck cobra venom. 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 look at the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.

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

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

That which he laboured for shall he give back, and shall not swallow it down; according to the substance that he hath gotten, he shall not rejoice.

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

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

Because he knew no quietness within him, in his greed he suffered nought to escape,

21 There was nothing left that he didn’t devour, therefore his prosperity will not endure.

There was nothing left that he devoured not — therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

22 In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress will overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery will come on 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 belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.

It shall be for the filling of his belly; He shall cast the fierceness of His wrath upon him, and shall cause it to rain upon him into his flesh.

24 He will flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow will strike him through.

If he flee from the iron weapon, the bow of brass shall strike him through.

25 He draws it out, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on 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 All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire will devour him. It will consume that which is left in his tent.

All darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not blown by man shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tent.

27 The heavens will reveal his iniquity. The earth will rise up against him.

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

28 The increase of his house will depart. They will rush away in the day of his wrath.

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

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

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