Job 20

1 And Zophar the Naamathite answereth and saith: —

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

2 Therefore my thoughts cause me to answer, And because of my sensations in me.

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

3 The chastisement of my shame I hear, And the spirit of mine understanding Doth cause me to answer:

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

4 This hast thou known from antiquity? Since the placing of man on earth?

Do you not know this from old time, since humankind was placed on earth,

5 That the singing of the wicked [is] short, And the joy of the profane for a moment,

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

6 Though his excellency go up to the heavens, And his head against a cloud he strike —

Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,

7 As his own dung for ever he doth perish, His beholders say: 'Where [is] he?'

yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him shall say, 'Where is he?'

8 As a dream he fleeth, and they find him not, And he is driven away as a vision of the night,

He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found. Yes, he shall be chased away like a vision of the night.

9 The eye hath not seen him, and addeth not. And not again doth his place behold him.

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

10 His sons do the poor oppress, And his hands give back his wealth.

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

11 His bones have been full of his youth, And with him on the dust it lieth down.

His bones are full of his youth, but youth shall lie down with him in the dust.

12 Though he doth sweeten evil in his mouth, Doth hide it under his tongue,

"Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,

13 Hath pity on it, and doth not forsake it, And keep it back in the midst of his palate,

though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;

14 His food in his bowels is turned, The bitterness of asps [is] in his heart.

yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him.

15 Wealth he hath swallowed, and doth vomit it. From his belly God driveth it out.

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

16 Gall of asps he sucketh, Slay him doth the tongue of a viper.

He shall suck cobra venom. The viper's tongue shall kill him.

17 He looketh not on rivulets, Flowing of brooks of honey and butter.

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

18 He is giving back [what] he laboured for, And doth not consume [it]; As a bulwark [is] his exchange, and he exults not.

That for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.

19 For he oppressed — he forsook the poor, A house he hath taken violently away, And he doth not build it.

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

20 For he hath not known ease in his belly. With his desirable thing he delivereth not himself.

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

21 There is not a remnant to his food, Therefore his good doth not stay.

There was nothing left that he did not devour, therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he is straitened. Every perverse hand doth meet him.

In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress shall overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come on him.

23 It cometh to pass, at the filling of his belly, He sendeth forth against him The fierceness of His anger, Yea, He raineth on him in his eating.

When he is about to fill his belly, he will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.

24 He fleeth from an iron weapon, Pass through him doth a bow of brass.

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

25 One hath drawn, And it cometh out from the body, And a glittering weapon from his gall proceedeth. On him [are] terrors.

He draws it forth, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on him.

26 All darkness is hid for his treasures, Consume him doth a fire not blown, Broken is the remnant in his tent.

All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent.

27 Reveal do the heavens his iniquity, And earth is raising itself against him.

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

28 Remove doth the increase of his house, Poured forth in a day of His anger.

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

29 This [is] the portion of a wicked man from God. And an inheritance appointed him by God.

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