Job 20

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Zophar of Naamath spoke next. He said:	1 Then Zophar the Naamathite spoke and said:
2 My thoughts urge me to reply to this, and hence the impatience that grips me.	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 I have put up with prating that outrages me and now my mind inspires me with an answer.	3 A rebuke which puts me to shame I hear,
4 Do you not know, that since time began and human beings were set on the earth,	4 Do you not know this from olden time, since man was placed upon the earth,
5 the triumph of the wicked has always been brief, and the sinner's gladness has never lasted long?	5 That the triumph of the wicked is short and the joy of the impious but for a moment?
6 Towering to the sky he may have been, his head touching the clouds;	6 Though his pride mount up to the heavens and his head reach to the clouds,
7 but he vanishes, like a phantom, once for al , while those who used to see him, ask, 'Where is he?'	7 Yet he perishes forever like the fuel of his fire, and the onlookers say, "Where is he?"
8 Like a dream that leaves no trace he takes his flight, like a vision in the night he flies away.	8 Like a dream he takes flight and is not found again; he fades away like a vision of the night.
9 The eye accustomed to see him sees him no more, his home wil never set eyes on him again.	9 The eye which saw him does so no more; nor shall his dwelling again behold him.
10 His sons will have to reimburse the poor and his children pay back his riches.	10 and his hands shall yield up his riches.
11 His bones used to be ful of youthful vigour: and there it lies, in the dust with him, now!	11 Though his frame is full of youthful vigor, this shall lie with him in the dust.
12 Evil was sweet to his mouth, he would shelter it under his tongue;	12 Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, and he hides it under his tongue,
13 cultivating it careful y, he would let it linger on his palate.	13 Though he retains it and will not let it go but keeps it still within his mouth,
14 Such food goes bad in his bel y, working inside him like the poison of a viper.	14 Yet in his stomach the food shall turn; it shall be venom of asps inside him.
15 Now he has to vomit up the wealth that he has swal owed, God makes him disgorge it.	15 The riches he swallowed he shall disgorge; God shall compel his belly to disown them.
16 He used to suck vipers' venom, and the tongue of the adder kills him.	16 The poison of asps he shall drink in; the viper's fangs shall slay him.
17 No more will he know the streams of oil or the torrents of honey and cream.	17 He shall see no streams of oil, no torrents of honey or milk.
18 When he gives back his winnings, his cheerfulness wil fade, and the satisfied air he had whenbusiness was thriving.	18 Restoring his gains, he shall not enjoy them; though his wealth increases, he shall not rejoice.
19 Since he once destroyed the huts of the poor, plundering houses instead of building them up,	19 Because he has oppressed the poor, and stolen a patrimony he had not built up,
20 since his avarice could never be satisfied, now al his hoarding will not save him;	20 Though he has known no quiet in his greed, his treasures shall not save him.
21 since nothing could escape his greed, his prosperity wil not last.	21 Therefore his prosperity shall not endure,
22 When he has everything he needs, want wil seize him, and misery wil light on him with all its force.	22 When he abounds to overflowing, he shall be brought into straits, and nought shall be left of his goods.
23 On him God looses al his burning wrath, hurling against his flesh a hail of arrows.	23 God shall send against him the fury of his wrath and rain down his missiles of war upon him.
24 If he escapes the weapons of iron, the bow of bronze wil transfix him.	24 Should he escape the iron weapon, the bow of bronze shall pierce him through;
25 Out of his back sticks an arrow, from his gal a shining point. The terrors advance on him,	25 The dart shall come out of his back; terrors shall fall upon him.
26 all the hidden darknesses are waiting to carry him off. A fire unlit by human hand devours him, andconsumes what is left in his tent.	26 Complete darkness is in store for him; the fire which shall consume him needs not to be fanned.
27 The heavens lay bare his iniquity, and the earth rises up against him.	27 The heavens shall reveal his guilt, and the earth shall rise up against him.
28 The income of his house pours away, like the torrents, on the day of retribution.	28 The flood shall sweep away his house with the waters that run off in the day of God's anger.
29 Such is the fate God reserves for the wicked, the inheritance he assigns to the accursed!	29 This is the portion of a wicked man, and the heritage appointed him by God.