1Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,2Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.3I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.4Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,5That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?6Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;7Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?8He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.9The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.10His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.11His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.12Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;13Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:14Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.15He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.16He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper' tongue shall slay him.17He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.18That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be , and he shall not rejoice therein .19Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;20Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.21There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.22In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.23When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.24He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.25It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.26All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.27The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.28The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.29This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.
Job 20
English Standard Version
Zophar Speaks: The Wicked Will Suffer
1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: (Job 2:11)2“Therefore my thoughts answer me, because of my haste within me. (Job 4:13)3I hear censure that insults me, and out of my understanding a spirit answers me.4Do you not know this from of old, since man was placed on earth, (De 4:32)5that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment? (Ps 37:35)6Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds, (Isa 14:13; Ob 1:3)7he will perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’ (1Ki 14:10; 2Ki 9:37; Job 14:10; Ps 83:10; Zep 1:17)8He will fly away like a dream and not be found; he will be chased away like a vision of the night. (Ps 73:20; Ps 90:5; Isa 29:7)9The eye that saw him will see him no more, nor will his place any more behold him. (Job 7:8; Job 7:10)10His children will seek the favor of the poor, and his hands will give back his wealth. (Job 20:18)11His bones are full of his youthful vigor, but it will lie down with him in the dust. (Job 13:26; Job 21:26; Ps 25:7)12“Though evil is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue, (Ps 10:7)13though he is loath to let it go and holds it in his mouth,14yet his food is turned in his stomach; it is the venom of cobras within him. (De 32:33; Ps 140:3)15He swallows down riches and vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly.16He will suck the poison of cobras; the tongue of a viper will kill him. (Pr 23:32; Isa 59:5)17He will not look upon the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds. (De 32:13; Job 29:6; Ps 36:8; Jer 17:6)18He will give back the fruit of his toil and will not swallow it down; from the profit of his trading he will get no enjoyment. (Job 20:10; Job 20:15)19For he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he did not build.20“Because he knew no contentment in his belly, he will not let anything in which he delights escape him. (Pr 17:1; Ec 5:13; Isa 59:8)21There was nothing left after he had eaten; therefore his prosperity will not endure.22In the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in distress; the hand of everyone in misery will come against him.23To fill his belly to the full, God[1] will send his burning anger against him and rain it upon him into his body. (Nu 11:33; Ps 78:30)24He will flee from an iron weapon; a bronze arrow will strike him through. (Jud 5:26; 2Sa 22:35; Isa 24:18; Jer 48:44; Am 5:19)25It is drawn forth and comes out of his body; the glittering point comes out of his gallbladder; terrors come upon him. (De 32:41; Jud 3:22; Job 16:13; Job 18:11)26Utter darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not fanned will devour him; what is left in his tent will be consumed. (Job 15:34; Ps 21:9)27The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him. (Job 16:18)28The possessions of his house will be carried away, dragged off in the day of God’s[2] wrath.29This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the heritage decreed for him by God.” (Job 18:21; Job 27:13; Job 31:2)