Job 20

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:

THEN answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2 Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of mine agitation that is in me.

Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.

3 I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame, but out of my understanding my spirit answereth me.

I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.

4 Knowest thou not this of old time, since man was placed upon earth,

Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment?

That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

6 Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

7 Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung; they that have seen him shall say: 'Where is he?'

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found; yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

9 The eye which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

10 His children shall appease the poor, and his hands shall restore his wealth.

His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.

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

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

12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;

Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;

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

Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:

14 Yet his food in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.

Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.

15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again; God shall cast them out of his belly.

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

16 He shall suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue shall slay him.

He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.

17 He shall not look upon the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and curd.

He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.

18 That which he laboured for shall he give back, and shall not swallow it down; according to the substance that he hath gotten, he shall not rejoice.

That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.

19 For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.

Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;

20 Because he knew no quietness within him, in his greed he suffered nought to escape,

Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.

21 There was nothing left that he devoured not — therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.

22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits; the hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon him.

In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.

23 It shall be for the filling of his belly; He shall cast the fierceness of His wrath upon him, and shall cause it to rain upon him into his flesh.

When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.

24 If he flee from the iron weapon, the bow of brass shall strike him through.

He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.

25 He draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body; yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall; terrors are upon him.

It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.

26 All darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not blown by man shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tent.

All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.

27 The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.

The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.

28 The increase of his house shall depart, his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.

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