| Chapter 20 |
1 | Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,
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2 | 'Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, Even by reason of my haste that is in me.
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3 | I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame; The spirit of my understanding answers me.
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4 | Don't you know this from old time, Since man was placed on earth,
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5 | That the triumphing of the wicked is short, The joy of the godless but for a moment?
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6 | Though his height mount up to the heavens, And his head reach to the clouds,
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7 | Yet he shall perish forever like his own dung, Those who have seen him shall say, 'Where is he?'
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8 | He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: Yes, he shall be chased away like a vision of the night.
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9 | The eye which saw him shall see him no more, Neither shall his place any more see him.
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10 | His children shall seek the favor of the poor. His hands shall give back his wealth.
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11 | His bones are full of his youth, But youth shall lie down with him in the dust.
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12 | 'Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, Though he hide it under his tongue,
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13 | Though he spare it, and will not let it go, But keep it still within his mouth;
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14 | Yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him.
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15 | He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.
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16 | He shall suck cobra venom. The viper's tongue shall kill him.
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17 | He shall not look at the rivers, The flowing streams of honey and butter.
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18 | That for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down; According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.
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19 | For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.
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20 | 'Because he knew no quietness within him, He shall not save anything of that in which he delights.
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21 | There was nothing left that he didn't devour, Therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
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22 | In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress shall overtake him: The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come on him.
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23 | When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.
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24 | He shall flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow shall strike him through.
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25 | He draws it forth, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on him.
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26 | All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent.
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27 | The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, The earth shall rise up against him.
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28 | The increase of his house shall depart; They shall rush away in the day of his wrath.
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29 | This is the portion of a wicked man from God, The heritage appointed to him by God.'
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