Job 20

English Standard Version

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: (Job 2:11)2 “Therefore my thoughts answer me, because of my haste within me. (Job 4:13)3 I hear censure that insults me, and out of my understanding a spirit answers me.4 Do you not know this from of old, since man was placed on earth, (De 4:32)5 that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment? (Ps 37:35)6 Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds, (Isa 14:13; Ob 1:3)7 he will perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’ (1Ki 14:10; 2Ki 9:37; Job 14:10; Ps 83:10; Zep 1:17)8 He will fly away like a dream and not be found; he will be chased away like a vision of the night. (Ps 73:20; Ps 90:5; Isa 29:7)9 The eye that saw him will see him no more, nor will his place any more behold him. (Job 7:8; Job 7:10)10 His children will seek the favor of the poor, and his hands will give back his wealth. (Job 20:18)11 His bones are full of his youthful vigor, but it will lie down with him in the dust. (Job 13:26; Job 21:26; Ps 25:7)12 “Though evil is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue, (Ps 10:7)13 though he is loath to let it go and holds it in his mouth,14 yet his food is turned in his stomach; it is the venom of cobras within him. (De 32:33; Ps 140:3)15 He swallows down riches and vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly.16 He will suck the poison of cobras; the tongue of a viper will kill him. (Pr 23:32; Isa 59:5)17 He will not look upon the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds. (De 32:13; Job 29:6; Ps 36:8; Jer 17:6)18 He will give back the fruit of his toil and will not swallow it down; from the profit of his trading he will get no enjoyment. (Job 20:10; Job 20:15)19 For he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he did not build.20 “Because he knew no contentment in his belly, he will not let anything in which he delights escape him. (Pr 17:1; Ec 5:13; Isa 59:8)21 There was nothing left after he had eaten; therefore his prosperity will not endure.22 In the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in distress; the hand of everyone in misery will come against him.23 To fill his belly to the full, God[1] will send his burning anger against him and rain it upon him into his body. (Nu 11:33; Ps 78:30)24 He will flee from an iron weapon; a bronze arrow will strike him through. (Jud 5:26; 2Sa 22:35; Isa 24:18; Jer 48:44; Am 5:19)25 It is drawn forth and comes out of his body; the glittering point comes out of his gallbladder; terrors come upon him. (De 32:41; Jud 3:22; Job 16:13; Job 18:11)26 Utter darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not fanned will devour him; what is left in his tent will be consumed. (Job 15:34; Ps 21:9)27 The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him. (Job 16:18)28 The possessions of his house will be carried away, dragged off in the day of God’s[2] wrath.29 This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the heritage decreed for him by God.” (Job 18:21; Job 27:13; Job 31:2)