Job 20

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2 “My thoughts make me answer quickly because of the worry that is in me.

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

3 I hear a rebuke that dishonors me, but a spirit from my understanding answers me.

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

4 Do you not know this fact from ancient times, when God placed man on earth:

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

5 the triumph of a wicked man is short, and the joy of a godless man lasts only for a moment?

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

6 Though his height reaches up to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds,

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

7 yet such a person will perish permanently like his own feces; those who have seen him will 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 will fly away like a dream and will not be found; indeed, he will be chased away like 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 that saw him will see him no more; his place will see him no longer.

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

10 His children will apologize to poor people; his hands will have to give back his wealth.

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

11 His bones are full of youthful strength, but it will 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 Although wickedness is sweet in his mouth, although he hides it under his tongue,

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

13 although he holds it there and does not let it go but keeps it still in his mouth—

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

14 the food in his intestines turns bitter; it becomes the poison of asps inside him.

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

15 He swallows down riches, but he will vomit them up again; God will cast them out of his stomach.

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

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

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

17 He will not enjoy the streams, the torrents of honey and butter.

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

18 He will give back the fruit of his labor and will not be able to eat it; he will not enjoy the wealth earned by his commerce.

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 has oppressed and neglected poor people; he has violently taken away houses that he did not build.

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

20 Because he has known no satisfaction himself, he will not be able to save anything in which he takes pleasure.

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

21 There is nothing left that he did not devour; therefore his prosperity will not be permanent.

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

22 In the abundance of his wealth he will fall into trouble; the hand of everyone who is in poverty will come against him.

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

23 When he is about to fill his stomach, God will throw the fierceness of his wrath on him; God will rain it down on him while he is eating.

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 Although that man will flee from the iron weapon, a bow of bronze will shoot him.

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

25 He pulls it out of his back and the gleaming point comes out of his liver. Terrors come over him.

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

26 Complete darkness is reserved for his treasures; a fire not fanned will devour him; it will consume what 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 will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him as a witness.

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

28 The wealth of his house will vanish; his goods will flow away on the day of God's wrath.

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

29 This is the wicked man's portion from God, the heritage reserved for him by God.”

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