Job 20

1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

2Therefore my thoughts make me answer, because of the urgency within me.

3I hear a rebuke that shames me, and the spirit of my understanding answers me.

4Do you know this from ancient times, since man was placed on the earth?

5For the rejoicing of the wicked is brief, and the joy of the godless lasts only a moment.

6Though his height rises to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds,

7Like his own dung, he will perish forever; those who saw him will say, ‘Where is he?’

8Like a dream he flies away and is not found; he is driven away like a vision of the night.

9The eye that saw him will not see him again, and his place will no longer see him.

10His sons will seek the favor of the poor, and his hands will give back his wealth.

11His bones are full of his youthful vigor, but it will lie down with him in the dust.

12Though evil is sweet in his mouth, he hides it under his tongue,

13He spares it and does not let it go, and holds it in his mouth.

14His food turns in his belly; it is the venom of poisonous snakes within him.

15He swallowed wealth, but he will vomit it up; God will drive it out of his belly.

16He sucks the venom of poisonous snakes; the tongue of a venomous snake kills him.

17He will not see the streams, the rivers, the brooks flowing with honey and curds.

18He returns what he gained by toil and does not swallow it; he does not enjoy the profit from his trade.

19For he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house he did not build.

20For he knew no quiet in his belly; he will save nothing of what he desires.

21Nothing escaped his devouring; therefore his prosperity will not endure.

22At the height of his abundance, he will be in distress; every hand of the afflicted will come against him.

23When he is about to fill his belly, God will send his burning anger against him and rain it down on him as his food.

24He will flee from an iron weapon, but a bronze bow will pierce him through.

25He draws it out, and it comes out of his body; the gleaming blade comes out of his gall; terrors come upon him.

26Total darkness is stored up for his treasures; a fire not fanned will consume him; it will harm what remains in his tent.

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

28The produce of his house will be carried away, flowing away on the day of his anger.

29This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the inheritance appointed for him from the Mighty One.