Job 20

¹ Then Zophar the Naamathite spoke and said:

² and because of this I am disturbed. So now my thoughts provide me with an answer, and from my understanding a spirit gives me a reply.

³ A rebuke which puts me to shame I hear,

⁴ Do you not know this from olden time, since man was placed upon the earth,

⁵ That the triumph of the wicked is short and the joy of the impious but for a moment?

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

⁷ Yet he perishes forever like the fuel of his fire, and the onlookers say, "Where is he?"

⁸ Like a dream he takes flight and is not found again; he fades away like a vision of the night.

⁹ The eye which saw him does so no more; nor shall his dwelling again behold him.

¹⁰ and his hands shall yield up his riches.

¹¹ Though his frame is full of youthful vigor, this shall lie with him in the dust.

¹² Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, and he hides it under his tongue,

¹³ Though he retains it and will not let it go but keeps it still within his mouth,

¹⁴ Yet in his stomach the food shall turn; it shall be venom of asps inside him.

¹⁵ The riches he swallowed he shall disgorge; God shall compel his belly to disown them.

¹⁶ The poison of asps he shall drink in; the viper's fangs shall slay him.

¹⁷ He shall see no streams of oil, no torrents of honey or milk.

¹⁸ Restoring his gains, he shall not enjoy them; though his wealth increases, he shall not rejoice.

¹⁹ Because he has oppressed the poor, and stolen a patrimony he had not built up,

²⁰ Though he has known no quiet in his greed, his treasures shall not save him.

²¹ Therefore his prosperity shall not endure,

²² When he abounds to overflowing, he shall be brought into straits, and nought shall be left of his goods.

²³ God shall send against him the fury of his wrath and rain down his missiles of war upon him.

²⁴ Should he escape the iron weapon, the bow of bronze shall pierce him through;

²⁵ The dart shall come out of his back; terrors shall fall upon him.

²⁶ Complete darkness is in store for him; the fire which shall consume him needs not to be fanned.

²⁷ The heavens shall reveal his guilt, and the earth shall rise up against him.

²⁸ The flood shall sweep away his house with the waters that run off in the day of God's anger.

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