Job 20

1 Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

And Zophar the Naamathite answereth and saith: —

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

As his own dung for ever he doth perish, His beholders 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.

As a dream he fleeth, and they find him not, And he is driven away as 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 hath not seen him, and addeth not. And not again doth his place behold him.

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

His sons do the poor oppress, 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 have been full of his youth, And with him on the dust it lieth down.

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

Though he doth sweeten evil in his mouth, Doth 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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He looketh not on rivulets, Flowing of brooks 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 is giving back [what] he laboured for, And doth not consume [it]; As a bulwark [is] his exchange, and he exults not.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. And an inheritance appointed him by God.