Job 20

1 And Zophar the Naamathite answers and says:

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

2 “Therefore my thoughts cause me to answer, And because of my sensations in me.

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

3 I hear the discipline of my shame, And the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer:

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

4 Have you known this from antiquity? Since the placing of man on earth?

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

5 That the singing of the wicked [is] short, And the joy of the profane for a moment,

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

6 Though his excellence goes up to the heavens, He strikes his head against a cloud—

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

7 He perishes as his own dung forever, His beholders say, Where [is] he?

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

8 He flees as a dream, and they do not find him, And he is driven away as 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 The eye has not seen him, and does not add. And his place does not behold him again.

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

10 His sons oppress the poor, And his hands give back his wealth.

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

11 His bones have been full of his youth, and it lies down with him on the dust.

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

12 Though he sweetens evil in his mouth, hides it under his tongue,

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

13 has pity on it, and does not forsake it, and keeps it back in the midst of his palate,

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

14 his food is turned in his bowels, the bitterness of cobras [is] in his heart.

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

15 He has swallowed wealth, and vomits it. God drives it out from his belly.

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

16 He sucks [the] gall of cobras, the tongue of a viper slays him.

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

17 He does not look on streams, Flowing of brooks of honey and butter.

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

18 He is giving back [what] he labored for, and does not consume [it]; As a bulwark [is] his exchange, and he does not exult.

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 he oppressed—he forsook the poor, He has taken a house away violently, And he does not build it.

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

20 For he has not known ease in his belly. With his desirable thing he does not deliver himself.

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

21 There is not a remnant to his food, Therefore his good does not stay.

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

22 In the fullness of his sufficiency he is constricted. Every perverse hand meets him.

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

23 It comes to pass, at the filling of his belly, He sends forth against him The fierceness of His anger, Indeed, He rains on him in his eating.

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 He flees from an iron weapon, A bow of bronze passes through him.

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

25 One has drawn, And it comes out from the body, And a glittering weapon proceeds from his gall. Terrors [are] on him.

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 darkness is hid for his treasures, A fire not blown consumes him, The remnant is broken in his tent.

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 his iniquity, And earth is raising itself against him.

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

28 The increase of his house is removed, Poured forth in a day of His anger.

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

29 This [is] the portion of a wicked man from God. And an inheritance appointed him by God.”

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