Job 20

1 Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

Then Zophar the Naamathite made answer and said,

2 I did not suppose that thou wouldest answer thus: neither do ye understand more than I.

For this cause my thoughts are troubling me and driving me on.

3 I will hear my shameful reproach; and the spirit of my understanding answers me.

I have to give ear to arguments which put me to shame, and your answers to me are wind without wisdom.

4 Hast thou [not] known these things of old, from the time that man was set upon the earth?

Have you knowledge of this from early times, when man was placed on the earth,

5 But the mirth of the ungodly is a signal downfall, and the joy of transgressors is destruction:

That the pride of the sinner is short, and the joy of the evil-doer but for a minute?

6 although his gifts should go up to heaven, and his sacrifice reach the clouds.

Though he is lifted up to the heavens, and his head goes up to the clouds;

7 For when he shall seem to be now established, then he shall utterly perish: and they that knew him shall say, Where is he?

Like the waste from his body he comes to an end for ever: those who have seen him say, Where is he?

8 Like a dream that has fled away, he shall not be found; and he has fled like a vision of the night.

He is gone like a dream, and is not seen again; he goes in flight like a vision of the night.

9 The eye has looked upon him, but shall not [see him] again; and his place shall no longer perceive him.

The eye which saw him sees him no longer; and his place has no more knowledge of him.

10 Let [his] inferiors destroy his children, and let his hands kindle the fire of sorrow.

His children are hoping that the poor will be kind to them, and his hands give back his wealth.

11 His bones have been filled with [vigour of] his youth, and it shall lie down with him in the dust.

His bones are full of young strength, but it will go down with him into the dust.

12 Though evil be sweet in his mouth, [though] he will hide it under his tongue;

Though evil-doing is sweet in his mouth, and he keeps it secretly under his tongue;

13 though he will not spare it, and will not leave it, but will keep it in the midst of his throat:

Though he takes care of it, and does not let it go, but keeps it still in his mouth;

14 yet he shall not at all be able to help himself; the gall of an asp is in his belly.

His food becomes bitter in his stomach; the poison of snakes is inside him.

15 [His] wealth unjustly collected shall be vomited up; a messenger [of wrath] shall drag him out of his house.

He takes down wealth as food, and sends it up again; it is forced out of his stomach by God.

16 And let him suck the poison of serpents, and let the serpent's tongue slay him.

He takes the poison of snakes into his mouth, the tongue of the snake is the cause of his death.

17 Let him not see the milk of the pastures, nor the supplies of honey and butter.

Let him not see the rivers of oil, the streams of honey and milk.

18 He has laboured unprofitably and in vain, [for] wealth of which he shall not taste: [it is] as a lean thing, unfit for food, which he cannot swallow.

He is forced to give back the fruit of his work, and may not take it for food; he has no joy in the profit of his trading.

19 For he has broken down the houses of many mighty men: and he has plundered an habitation, though he built [it] not.

Because he has been cruel to the poor, turning away from them in their trouble; because he has taken a house by force which he did not put up;

20 There is no security to his possessions; he shall not be saved by his desire.

There is no peace for him in his wealth, and no salvation for him in those things in which he took delight.

21 There is nothing remaining of his provisions; therefore his goods shall not flourish.

He had never enough for his desire; for this cause his well-being will quickly come to an end.

22 But when he shall seem to be just satisfied, he shall be straitened; and all distress shall come upon him.

Even when his wealth is great, he is full of care, for the hand of everyone who is in trouble is turned against him.

23 If by any means he would fill his belly, let [God] send upon him the fury of wrath; let him bring a torrent of pains upon him.

God gives him his desire, and sends the heat of his wrath on him, making it come down on him like rain.

24 And he shall by no means escape from the power of the sword; let the brazen bow wound him.

He may go in flight from the iron spear, but the arrow from the bow of brass will go through him;

25 And let the arrow pierce through his body; and let the stars be against his dwelling-place: let terrors come upon him.

He is pulling it out, and it comes out of his back; and its shining point comes out of his side; he is overcome by fears.

26 And let all darkness wait for him: a fire that burns not out shall consume him; and let a stranger plague his house.

All his wealth is stored up for the dark: a fire not made by man sends destruction on him, and on everything in his tent.

27 And let the heaven reveal his iniquities, and the earth rise up against him.

The heavens make clear his sin, and the earth gives witness against him.

28 Let destruction bring his house to an end; let a day of wrath come upon him.

The produce of his house is taken away into another country, like things given into the hands of others in the day of wrath.

29 This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of his goods [appointed him] by the all-seeing [God].

This is the reward of the evil man, and the heritage given to him by God.