Job 20

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

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

2 “Therefore my thoughts answer me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.

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

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

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

4 Don’t you know this from old time, since man was placed on earth,

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

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

6 Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds,

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

7 he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’

7 yet he will perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’

8 He will fly away like a dream, never to be found; he will be chased away like a vision in the night.

8 He will fly away as a dream, and will not be found. Yes, he will be chased away like a vision of the night.

9 The eye that saw him will see him no more, and his place will no longer behold him.

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

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

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

11 The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie down with him in the dust.

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

12 Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue,

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

13 though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth,

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

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

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

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

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

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

16 He will suck cobra venom. The viper’s tongue will kill him.

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

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

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

18 He will restore that for which he labored, and will not swallow it down. He will not rejoice according to the substance that he has gotten.

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

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

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

20 “Because he knew no quietness within him, he will not save anything of that in which he delights.

21 Nothing is left for him to consume; thus his prosperity will not endure.

21 There was nothing left that he didn’t devour, therefore his prosperity will not endure.

22 In the midst of his plenty, he will be distressed; the full force of misery will come upon him.

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

23 When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats.

23 When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.

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

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

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

25 He draws it out, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on him.

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

26 All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire will devour him. It will consume that which is left in his tent.

27 The heavens will expose his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.

27 The heavens will reveal his iniquity. The earth will rise up against him.

28 The possessions of his house will be removed, flowing away on the day of God’s wrath.

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

29 This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.”

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