Job - Chapter 20 - A Conservative Version
- Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, and said,
- Therefore my thoughts cause me to answer, even because of my haste that is in me.
- I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame, and the spirit of my understanding answers me.
- Know thou this of old time, since man was placed upon earth,
- that the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the profane but for a moment?
- Though his height mounts up to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds,
- yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him shall say, Where is he?
- He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found. Yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.
- The eye which saw him shall see him no more, neither shall his place any more behold him.
- His sons shall seek the favor of the poor, and his hands shall give back his wealth.
- His bones are full of his youth, but it shall lie down with him in the dust.
- Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,
- though he spares it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth,
- yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is the gall of asps within him.
- He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.
- He shall suck the poison of asps. The viper's tongue shall kill him.
- He shall not look upon the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.
- That which he labored for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.
- For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.
- Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save any of that in which he delights.
- There was nothing left that he did not devour, therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
- In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits. The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come upon him.
- When he is about to fill his belly, [God] will cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, and will rain it upon him while he is eating.
- He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of brass shall strike him through.
- He draws it forth, and it comes out of his body, yea, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors are upon him.
- All darkness is laid up for his treasures. A fire not blown shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent.
- The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.
- The increase of his house shall depart, flowed away in the day of his wrath.
- This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God.