Job 20

1Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.footnote a

3I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.

4Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

5That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?footnote b

6Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;footnote c

7Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

8He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

9The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

10His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.footnote d

11His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.

12Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;

13Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:footnote e

14Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.

15He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

16He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.

17He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.footnote f

18That 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.footnote g

19Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;footnote h

20Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.footnote i

21There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.footnote j

22In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.footnote k

23When 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.

24He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.

25It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.

26All 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.

27The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.

28The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

29This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.footnote l

Zophar: Destruction Awaits the Wicked

1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

2“So my anxious thoughts compel me to answer,because of the turmoil within me. 3I have heard a rebuke that insults me,and my understanding prompts a reply.

4Do you not know that from antiquity,since man was placed on the earth, 5the triumph of the wicked has been briefand the joy of the godless momentary? 6Though his arrogance reaches the heavens,and his head touches the clouds, 7he will perish forever, like his own dung;those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’ 8He will fly away like a dream, never to be found;he will be chased away like a vision in the night. 9The eye that saw him will see him no more,and his place will no longer behold him. 10His sons will seek the favor of the poor,for his own hands must return his wealth. 11The youthful vigor that fills his boneswill lie down with him in the dust.

12Though evil is sweet in his mouthand he conceals it under his tongue, 13though he cannot bear to let it goand keeps it in his mouth, 14yet in his stomach his food soursinto the venom of cobras within him. 15He swallows wealth but vomits it out;God will force it from his stomach. 16He will suck the poison of cobras;the fangs of a viper will kill him. 17He will not enjoy the streams,the rivers flowing with honey and cream. 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 seized houses he did not build.

20Because his appetite is never satisfied,he cannot escape with his treasure. 21Nothing is left for him to consume;thus his prosperity will not endure. 22In the midst of his plenty, he will be distressed;the full force of misery will come upon him. 23When he has filled his stomach,God will vent His fury upon him,raining it down on him as he eats. 24Though he flees from an iron weapon,a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce him. 25It is drawn out of his back,the gleaming point from his liver.footnote aTerrors come over him. 26Total darkness is reserved for his treasures.A fire unfanned will consume himand devour what is left in his tent. 27The heavens will expose his iniquity,and the earth will rise up against him. 28The possessions of his house will be removed,flowing away on the day of God’s wrath.

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