Job 20

And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said, 2 “Therefore my thoughts turn me back, because of my urgency in me. 3 I hear a rebuke of dishonor to me, but a spirit from my understanding answers me. \* 4 Do you {not} know this from long ago, from the placing of man upon the earth, 5 that the triumph of the wicked {is} from near, and the joy of the godless {is} for a moment? \* 6 Though his height rises to the skies and his head reaches to the cloud, 7 he will perish forever like his dung. The ones having seen him will say, ‘Where {is he}?’ \* 8 He will fly away like a dream, and they will not find him, and he will be chased away like a vision of the night. 9 The eye {that} saw him will not continue, and his place will no longer observe him. \* 10 His children will recompense the poor, and his hands will return his wealth. 11 His bones are full of vigor, but it will lie down with him in the dust. \* 12 Although wickedness is sweet in his mouth, he hides it under his tongue, 13 he has pity on it and does not forsake it but keeps it in the midst of his palate, 14 his food changes in his bowels; {it becomes} the bitterness of asps inside him. \* 15 He swallows wealth, but he will vomit it; God will expel it from his belly. 16 He will suck the poison of asps; the tongue of the viper will kill him. \* 17 He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers of torrents of honey and butter. 18 He will return {his} gain and will not consume {it}, and he will not have enjoyment according to the wealth of his commerce. 19 For he has oppressed, he has forsaken the poor; he has seized a house and he did not build it. \* 20 Because he has not known satisfaction in his belly, he will not rescue {any} desired {thing} of his. 21 There is no remnant for his eating; therefore his prosperity does not endure. 22 In the filling of his wealth it will become narrow to him; every hand of the troubling will come against him. \* 23 He will be {about} to fill his belly, he will send the burning of his nose against him, and he will rain {it} upon him in his eating. 24 He flees from a weapon of iron, a bow of bronze pierces him. 25 He pulls, and it comes out of his back, and the gleaming goes out of his liver. Terrors {are} upon him! \* 26 All darkness is hidden for his treasured {things}; a fire not blown will devour him; it will consume the remnant in his tent. 27 The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will raise itself up against him. \* 28 The wealth of his house will depart, flowing away on the day of his nose. 29 This {is} the portion of the wicked man from God, and the heritage of his appointment from God.” \*