Job 20

1Zophar the Naamathite answered and said.

2Therefore my thoughts compel me to reply, because of my haste within me.

3I hear the chastening of my reproach, and the spirit from my understanding answers me.

4Do you know this from times of old, since man was set upon the earth?

5that the exultation of the wicked is brief, and the gladness of the hypocrite but momentary?

6Though his height ascends to the heavens, and his head reaches the cloud,

7Like his own dung he will perish forever; those who have seen him will say, "Where is he?"

8He will fly away like a dream, and they will not find him; he will be driven off like a nighttime vision.

9The eye that saw him will see him no more, nor will his place behold him again.

10His children will appease the poor, and his hands will return his wealth.

11His bones overflow with his youth that lies down with him in the dust.

12Though evil tastes sweet in his mouth, he conceals it under his tongue.

13though he pities it and does not abandon it, but restrains it within his mouth.

14His food turns in his bowels to the gall of adders within him.

15He swallowed riches and vomited them from his belly; God will cast them out.

16He will suck adders' poison; a viper's tongue will kill him.

17He will not see the streams, the rivers, the brooks of honey and butter.

18He will restore what he labored for but not swallow it down; like his wealth is his recompense, and he will not rejoice.

19For he crushed and abandoned the poor, plundered a house, but will not build it.

20Because he knew no ease in his belly, he will not save any of what he coveted.

21Nothing remained of his food, therefore his prosperity will not endure.

22In the fullness of his abundance he will be in straits; every hand of the wretched will come upon him.

23When he is about to fill his belly, he will hurl the fury of his anger upon him and rain it on him while he eats.

24He will flee from iron weapons; the bronze bow will pass through him.

25It is drawn out and comes out of his body; the glitter from his gall goes upon him: terrors are upon him.

26All darkness lies hidden for his secret treasures; fire not blown consumes him—it brings harm to the survivor in his tent.

27The heavens will expose his iniquity, and the earth will rise against him.

28The yield of his house will depart as they pour away in the day of his anger.

29This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage decreed for him from God.