Bible
Display

Job 20

1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,
1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
2“Therefore my thoughts answer me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.
2“So my anxious thoughts compel me to answer, because of the turmoil within me.
3I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame. The spirit of my understanding answers me.
3I have heard a rebuke that insults me, and my understanding prompts a reply.
4Don’t you know this from old time, since man was placed on earth,
4Do you not know that from antiquity, since man was placed on the earth,
5that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?
5the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?
6Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,
6Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds,
7yet he will perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
7he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’
8He will fly away as a dream, and will not be found. Yes, he will be chased away like a vision of the night.
8He will fly away like a dream, never to be found; he will be chased away like a vision in the night.
9The eye which saw him will see him no more, neither will his place see him any more.
9The eye that saw him will see him no more, and his place will no longer behold him.
10His children will seek the favor of the poor. His hands will give back his wealth.
10His sons will seek the favor of the poor, for his own hands must return his wealth.
11His bones are full of his youth, but youth will lie down with him in the dust.
11The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie down with him in the dust.
12“Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,
12Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue,
13though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth,
13though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth,
14yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him.
14yet in his stomach his food sours into the venom of cobras within him.
15He has swallowed down riches, and he will vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.
15He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.
16He will suck cobra venom. The viper’s tongue will kill him.
16He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will kill him.
17He will not look at the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.
17He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.
18He 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.
18He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits of his trading.
19For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he will not build it up.
19For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.
20“Because he knew no quietness within him, he will not save anything of that in which he delights.
20Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure.
21There was nothing left that he didn’t devour, therefore his prosperity will not endure.
21Nothing is left for him to consume; thus his prosperity will not endure.
22In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress will overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery will come on him.
22In the midst of his plenty, he will be distressed; the full force of misery will come upon him.
23When 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.
23When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats.
24He will flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow will strike him through.
24Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce him.
25He draws it out, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on him.
25It is drawn out of his back, the gleaming point from his liver. Terrors come over him.
26All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire will devour him. It will consume that which is left in his tent.
26Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.
27The heavens will reveal his iniquity. The earth will rise up against him.
27The heavens will expose his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.
28The increase of his house will depart. They will rush away in the day of his wrath.
28The possessions of his house will be removed, flowing away on the day of God’s wrath.
29This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the heritage appointed to him by God.”
29This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.”