Job 20

1 Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

yet he will perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him will 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 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 has looked upon him, but shall not [see him] again; and his place shall no longer perceive him.

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

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

His children will seek the favour of the poor. His hands will 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 his youth, but youth will lie down with him in the dust.

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

“Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it 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 spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth,

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

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

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

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

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

He will suck cobra venom. The viper’s tongue will kill him.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

25 And let the arrow pierce through his body; and let the stars be against his dwelling-place: let terrors come 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 And let all darkness wait for him: a fire that burns not out shall consume him; and let a stranger plague his house.

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

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

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

The increase of his house will depart. They will rush away in the day of his 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 portion of a wicked man from God, the heritage appointed to him by God.”