Job 20

1 respondens autem Sophar Naamathites dixit

Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

2 idcirco cogitationes meae variae succedunt sibi et mens in diversa rapitur

I did not suppose that you would answer thus: neither do you understand more than I.

3 doctrinam qua me arguis audiam et spiritus intellegentiae meae respondebit mihi

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

4 hoc scio a principio ex quo positus est homo super terram

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

5 quod laus impiorum brevis sit et gaudium hypocritae ad instar puncti

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

6 si ascenderit usque ad caelum superbia eius et caput eius nubes tetigerit

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

7 quasi sterquilinium in fine perdetur et qui eum viderant dicent ubi est

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

8 velut somnium avolans non invenietur transiet sicut visio nocturna

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

9 oculus qui eum viderat non videbit neque ultra intuebitur eum locus suus

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

10 filii eius adterentur egestate et manus illius reddent ei dolorem suum

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

11 ossa eius implebuntur vitiis adulescentiae eius et cum eo in pulverem dormient

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

12 cum enim dulce fuerit in ore eius malum abscondet illud sub lingua sua

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

13 parcet illi et non derelinquet illud et celabit in gutture suo

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

14 panis eius in utero illius vertetur in fel aspidum intrinsecus

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

15 divitias quas devoravit evomet et de ventre illius extrahet eas Deus

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

16 caput aspidum suget occidet eum lingua viperae

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

17 non videat rivulos fluminis torrentes mellis et butyri

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

18 luet quae fecit omnia nec tamen consumetur iuxta multitudinem adinventionum suarum sic et sustinebit

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 can’t swallow.

19 quoniam confringens nudavit pauperes domum rapuit et non aedificavit eam

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

20 nec est satiatus venter eius et cum habuerit quae cupierat possidere non poterit

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

21 non remansit de cibo eius et propterea nihil permanebit de bonis eius

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

22 cum satiatus fuerit artabitur aestuabit et omnis dolor inruet in eum

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

23 utinam impleatur venter eius ut emittat in eum iram furoris sui et pluat super illum bellum suum

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.

24 fugiet arma ferrea et inruet in arcum aereum

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

25 eductus et egrediens de vagina sua et fulgurans in amaritudine sua vadent et venient super eum horribiles

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

26 omnes tenebrae absconditae sunt in occultis eius devorabit eum ignis qui non succenditur adfligetur relictus in tabernaculo suo

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

27 revelabunt caeli iniquitatem eius et terra consurget adversus eum

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

28 apertum erit germen domus illius detrahetur in die furoris Dei

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

29 haec est pars hominis impii a Deo et hereditas verborum eius a Domino

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