Job 20

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Then Sophar the Naamathite answered, and said:	1 Then Zophar the Naamathite spoke and said:
2 Therefore various thoughts succeed one another in me, and my mind is hurried away to different things.	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 The doctrine with which thou reprovest me, I will hear, and the spirit of my understanding shall answer for me.	3 A rebuke which puts me to shame I hear,
4 This I know from the beginning, since man was placed upon the earth,	4 Do you not know this from olden time, since man was placed upon the earth,
5 that the praise of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment.	5 That the triumph of the wicked is short and the joy of the impious but for a moment?
6 If his pride mount up even to heaven, and his head touch the clouds:	6 Though his pride mount up to the heavens and his head reach to the clouds,
7 In the end he shall be destroyed like a dunghill, and they that has seen him shall say: Where is he?	7 Yet he perishes forever like the fuel of his fire, and the onlookers say, "Where is he?"
8 As a dream that fleeth away he shall not be found, he shall pass as a vision of the night:	8 Like a dream he takes flight and is not found again; he fades away like a vision of the night.
9 The eyes that had seen him, shall see him no more, neither shall his place any more behold him.	9 The eye which saw him does so no more; nor shall his dwelling again behold him.
10 His children shall be oppressed with want, and his hands shall render him his sorrow.	10 and his hands shall yield up his riches.
11 His bones shall be filled with the vices of his youth, and they shall sleep with him in the dust.	11 Though his frame is full of youthful vigor, this shall lie with him in the dust.
12 For when evil shall be sweet in his mouth, he will hide it under his tongue.	12 Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, and he hides it under his tongue,
13 He will spare it, and not leave it, and will hide it in his throat.	13 Though he retains it and will not let it go but keeps it still within his mouth,
14 His bread in his belly shall be turned into the gall of asps within him.	14 Yet in his stomach the food shall turn; it shall be venom of asps inside him.
15 The riches which he hath swallowed; he shall vomit up, and God shall draw them out of his belly.	15 The riches he swallowed he shall disgorge; God shall compel his belly to disown them.
16 He shall suck the head of asps, and the viper's tongue shall kill him.	16 The poison of asps he shall drink in; the viper's fangs shall slay him.
17 (Let him not see the streams of the river, the brooks of honey and of butter.)	17 He shall see no streams of oil, no torrents of honey or milk.
18 He shall be punished for all that he did, and yet shall not be consumed: according to the multitude of his devices so also shall he suffer.	18 Restoring his gains, he shall not enjoy them; though his wealth increases, he shall not rejoice.
19 Because he broke in and stripped the poor: he hath violently taken away a house which he did not build.	19 Because he has oppressed the poor, and stolen a patrimony he had not built up,
20 And yet his belly was not filled: and when he hath the things he coveted, he shall not be able to possess them.	20 Though he has known no quiet in his greed, his treasures shall not save him.
21 There was nothing left of his meat, and therefore nothing shall continue of his goods:	21 Therefore his prosperity shall not endure,
22 When he shall be filled, he shall be straitened, he shall burn, and every sorrow shall fall upon him.	22 When he abounds to overflowing, he shall be brought into straits, and nought shall be left of his goods.
23 May his belly be filled, that God may send forth the wrath of his indignation upon him, and rain down his war upon him.	23 God shall send against him the fury of his wrath and rain down his missiles of war upon him.
24 He shall flee from weapons of iron, and shall fall upon a bow of brass.	24 Should he escape the iron weapon, the bow of bronze shall pierce him through;
25 The sword is drawn out, and cometh forth from its scabbard, and glittereth in his bitterness: the terrible ones shall go and come upon him.	25 The dart shall come out of his back; terrors shall fall upon him.
26 All darkness is hid in his secret places: a fire that is not kindled shall devour him, he shall be afflicted when left in his tabernacle.	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 iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.	27 The heavens shall reveal his guilt, and the earth shall rise up against him.
28 The offspring of his house shall be exposed, he shall be pulled down in the day of God's wrath.	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 from God, and the inheritance of his doings from the Lord.	29 This is the portion of a wicked man, and the heritage appointed him by God.