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 cause me to answer, and for [this] I make haste.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

His bones are full [of the sin] of his youth, which 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 may be sweet in his mouth, [though] he may 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 may spare it, and forsake it not; 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 see the river, the floods, the brooks of honey and buttermilk.

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 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].

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked 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.

[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.

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

He shall flee from the iron weapon, [and] the bow of steel 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.

It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yes, the glittering sword 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 [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.

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

The heaven 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, [and 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 to him by God.