Job 20

¹ Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, ² Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, Even by reason of my haste that is in me. ³ I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame; And the spirit of my understanding answereth me. ⁴ Knowest thou not this of old time, Since man was placed upon earth, ⁵ That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless but for a moment? ⁶ Though his height mount up to the heavens, And his head reach unto the clouds; ⁷ Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: They that have seen him shall say, Where is he? ⁸ He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: Yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. ⁹ The eye which saw him shall see him no more; Neither shall his place any more behold him. ¹⁰ __a__FOOTNOTE__a__ Job 20:10 Or, as otherwise read, The poor shall oppress his children __b__FOOTNOTE__b__ His children shall seek the favor of the poor, And his hands shall give back his wealth. ¹¹ His bones are full of his youth, But it shall lie down with him in the dust. ¹² Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, Though he hide it under his tongue, ¹³ Though he spare it, and will not let it go, But keep it still within his mouth; ¹⁴ Yet his food in his bowels is turned, It is the gall of asps within him. ¹⁵ He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again; God will cast them out of his belly. ¹⁶ He shall suck the poison of asps: The viper’s tongue shall slay him. ¹⁷ He shall not look upon the rivers, The flowing streams of honey and butter. ¹⁸ That which he labored for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down; that he hath gotten, he shall not rejoice. ¹⁹ For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; and he shall not build it up. ²⁰ Because he knew no quietness within him, He shall not save aught of that wherein he delighteth. ²¹ There was nothing left that he devoured not; Therefore his prosperity shall not endure. ²² In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: The hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon him. ²³ __a__FOOTNOTE__a__ Job 20:23 Or, Let it be for the filling of his belly that God shall cast etc. __b__FOOTNOTE__b__ When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, __a__FOOTNOTE__a__ Job 20:23 Or, as his food __b__FOOTNOTE__b__ while he is eating. ²⁴ He shall flee from the iron weapon, And the bow of brass shall strike him through. ²⁵ He draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body; Yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall: Terrors are upon him. ²⁶ All darkness is laid up for his treasures: by man shall devour him; It shall consume that which is left in his tent. ²⁷ The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, And the earth shall rise up against him. ²⁸ The increase of his house shall depart; His goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath. ²⁹ This is the portion of a wicked man from God, And the heritage appointed unto him by God.