Job 20:1 ←
Then Zophar the Naamathite made answer and said,
Job 20:2 ←
For this cause my thoughts are troubling me and driving me on.
Job 20:3 ←
I have to give ear to arguments which put me to shame, and your answers to me are wind without wisdom.
Job 20:4 ←
Have you knowledge of this from early times, when man was placed on the earth,
Job 20:5 ←
That the pride of the sinner is short, and the joy of the evil-doer but for a minute?
Job 20:6 ←
Though he is lifted up to the heavens, and his head goes up to the clouds;
Job 20:7 ←
Like the waste from his body he comes to an end for ever: those who have seen him say, Where is he?
Job 20:8 ←
He is gone like a dream, and is not seen again; he goes in flight like a vision of the night.
Job 20:9 ←
The eye which saw him sees him no longer; and his place has no more knowledge of him.
Job 20:10 ←
His children are hoping that the poor will be kind to them, and his hands give back his wealth.
Job 20:11 ←
His bones are full of young strength, but it will go down with him into the dust.
Job 20:12 ←
Though evil-doing is sweet in his mouth, and he keeps it secretly under his tongue;
Job 20:13 ←
Though he takes care of it, and does not let it go, but keeps it still in his mouth;
Job 20:14 ←
His food becomes bitter in his stomach; the poison of snakes is inside him.
Job 20:15 ←
He takes down wealth as food, and sends it up again; it is forced out of his stomach by God.
Job 20:16 ←
He takes the poison of snakes into his mouth, the tongue of the snake is the cause of his death.
Job 20:17 ←
Let him not see the rivers of oil, the streams of honey and milk.
Job 20:18 ←
He is forced to give back the fruit of his work, and may not take it for food; he has no joy in the profit of his trading.
Job 20:19 ←
Because he has been cruel to the poor, turning away from them in their trouble; because he has taken a house by force which he did not put up;
Job 20:20 ←
There is no peace for him in his wealth, and no salvation for him in those things in which he took delight.
Job 20:21 ←
He had never enough for his desire; for this cause his well-being will quickly come to an end.
Job 20:22 ←
Even when his wealth is great, he is full of care, for the hand of everyone who is in trouble is turned against him.
Job 20:23 ←
God gives him his desire, and sends the heat of his wrath on him, making it come down on him like rain.
Job 20:24 ←
He may go in flight from the iron spear, but the arrow from the bow of brass will go through him;
Job 20:25 ←
He is pulling it out, and it comes out of his back; and its shining point comes out of his side; he is overcome by fears.
Job 20:26 ←
All his wealth is stored up for the dark: a fire not made by man sends destruction on him, and on everything in his tent.
Job 20:27 ←
The heavens make clear his sin, and the earth gives witness against him.
Job 20:28 ←
The produce of his house is taken away into another country, like things given into the hands of others in the day of wrath.
Job 20:29 ←
This is the reward of the evil man, and the heritage given to him by God.
Public Domain