Job 20

¹ Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

² “ Therefore my thoughts answer me,

³ I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame.

⁴ Don’t you know this from old time,

⁵ that the triumphing of the wicked is short,

⁶ Though his height mount up to the heavens,

⁷ yet he will perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he? ’

⁸ He will fly away as a dream, and will not be found. Yes, he will be chased away like a vision of the night.

⁹ The eye which saw him will see him no more,

¹⁰ His children will seek the favor of the poor.

¹¹ His bones are full of his youth,

¹² “Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,

¹³ though he spare it, and will not let it go,

¹⁴ yet his food in his bowels is turned.

¹⁵ He has swallowed down riches, and he will vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.

¹⁶ He will suck cobra venom.

¹⁷ He will not look at the rivers,

¹⁸ He will restore that for which he labored, and will not swallow it down.

¹⁹ For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor.

²⁰ “ Because he knew no quietness within him,

²¹ There was nothing left that he didn’t devour,

²² In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress will overtake him.

²³ When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him.

²⁴ He will flee from the iron weapon.

²⁵ He draws it out, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on him.

²⁶ All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire will devour him.

²⁷ The heavens will reveal his iniquity.

²⁸ The increase of his house will depart.

²⁹ This is the portion of a wicked man from God,