Job 20

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

2 “I'm forced to reply because I'm really upset!

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

3 What I hear you say insults me, but I know how to reply to you!

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

4 Don't you know that since ancient times, since human beings were put on this earth,

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

5 that the triumph of the wicked doesn't last long, that those who reject God are only happy for a short time?

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

6 Even though they are so tall they reach the heavens, even though their heads reach the clouds,

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

7 they will vanish forever like their own excrement. People who knew them will ask, ‘Where have they gone?’

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

8 They will vanish like a dream, never to be found, fleeing like 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 Those who once saw them will not see them anymore; their families will never set eyes on them again.

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

10 Their children will have to pay back the poor; they will have to return their wealth.

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

11 Though the wicked have bodies that are young and strong, they will die and be buried.

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

12 Though evil tastes sweet in their mouths and they hide it under their tongues,

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

13 not letting it go but keeping it in their mouths,

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

14 in their stomachs it turns bitter, becoming like snake venom inside them.

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

15 They swallow wealth and vomit it up again; God forces it from their stomachs.

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

16 They suck in snake venom; the bite of the viper will kill them.

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

17 They will not live to enjoy the streams, the rivers of milk and honey.

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

18 They will have to give back what they have gained and will not have any benefit; they will not enjoy any of their profits.

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 they have oppressed and abandoned the poor; they have seized houses they did not build.

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

20 Because their greed was never satisfied, nothing they liked is left that they didn't consume.

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

21 Nothing escapes their ravenous appetites, so their happiness doesn't last long.

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

22 Even when the wicked have all that they want they run into trouble; all kinds of misery will fall upon them.

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

23 While they are busy filling their bellies, God's hostility will burn against them, raining down on them.

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 As they flee to escape an iron weapon, a bronze arrow will strike them down.

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

25 The arrow is pulled out of their gall bladder, glistening with blood. They are absolutely terrified!

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 they value will disappear into the darkness; divine fire will destroy them; all they have left will go up in smoke.

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 The heavens reveal what they have done wrong; the earth will rise up against them.

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

28 All their possessions will be carried from their homes; they will be dragged off on the day of God's judgment.

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

29 This is the share the wicked receive from God, the inheritance God says they should have.”

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