Job 20

1 Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

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

“So my anxious thoughts compel me to answer, because of the turmoil within me.

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

I have heard a rebuke that insults me, and my understanding prompts a reply.

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

Do you not know that from antiquity, since man was placed on the earth,

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

the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?

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

Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches 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?

he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘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 like a dream, never to be found; he will be chased away like a vision in 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 that saw him will see him no more, and his place will no longer behold him.

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

His sons will seek the favor of the poor, for his own hands must return his wealth.

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

The youthful vigor that fills his bones 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 evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals 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 cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth,

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

yet in his stomach his food sours into the venom of cobras within him.

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

He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.

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

He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will kill him.

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

He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.

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 can’t swallow.

He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits 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.

For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.

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

Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure.

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

Nothing is left for him to consume; thus 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 midst of his plenty, he will be distressed; the full force of misery will come upon 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 has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats.

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

Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce him.

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

It is drawn out of his back, the gleaming point from his liver. Terrors come over 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.

Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.

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

The heavens will expose his iniquity, and 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 possessions of his house will be removed, flowing away on the day of God’s 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 wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.”