Job 20

1 Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

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

Therefore do my thoughts give me an answer, and for this is my haste within me.

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

I hear a reproof putting me to shame; and [my] spirit answereth me by mine understanding.

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

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

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

The exultation of the wicked is short, and the joy of the ungodly man but for a moment?

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

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

Like his own dung doth he perish for ever; they which have seen him shall 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.

He flieth away as a dream, and is not found; and is chased 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 which saw him shall [see him] not again; and his place beholdeth him no more.

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

His children shall seek the favour of the poor, and his hands restore 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 were full of his youthful strength; but it shall lie down with him in the dust.

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

Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth [and] he 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:

[Though] he spare it, and forsake it not, but keep it within his mouth,

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

His food is turned in his bowels; it is the gall of asps within him.

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

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

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

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

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

He shall not see streams, rivers, 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 can’t swallow.

That which he laboured for shall he restore, and not swallow down; its restitution shall be according to the value, and he shall not rejoice [therein].

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 hath oppressed, hath forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away a house that he did not build.

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

Because he knew no rest in his craving, he shall save nought of what he most desired.

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

Nothing escaped his greediness; therefore his prosperity shall 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 fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits; every hand of the wretched shall 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.

It shall be that, to fill his belly, he will cast his fierce anger upon him, and will rain it upon him into his flesh.

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

If he have fled from the iron weapon, the bow of brass shall strike him through.

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

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

All darkness is laid up for his treasures: a fire not blown shall devour him; it shall feed upon what is left in his tent.

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

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

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

The increase of his house shall depart, flowing away in the 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 the wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God.