Job 20

Zophar Says, “The Triumph of the Wicked Is Short”

1Then Zophar the Naamathite 1answered,2“Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me 2respond, Even because of my 3inward agitation.3I listened to 4the reproof which insults me, And the spirit of my understanding makes me answer.4Do you know this from 5of old, From the establishment of man on earth,5That the 6triumphing of the wicked is short, And 7the joy of the godless momentary?6Though his loftiness 89reaches the heavens, And his head touches the clouds,7He 10perishes forever like his refuse; Those who have seen him 11will say, ‘Where is he?’8He flies away like a 12dream, and they cannot find him; Even like a vision of the night he is 13chased away.9The 14eye which saw him sees him no longer, And 15his place no longer beholds him.10His 16sons 17favor the poor, And his hands 18give back his wealth.11His 19bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it lies down with him 20in the dust.

12“Though 21evil is sweet in his mouth And he hides it under his tongue,13Though he 22desires it and will not let it go, But holds it 23in his 24mouth,14Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the 25venom of cobras within him.15He swallows riches, But will 26vomit them up; God will expel them from his belly.16He sucks 27the poison of cobras; The viper’s tongue slays him.17He does not look at 28the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and curds.18He 29returns what he has attained And cannot swallow it; As to the riches of his trading, He cannot even enjoy them.19For he has 30oppressed and forsaken the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built.

20“Because he knew no quiet 31within him, He does 32not retain anything he desires.21Nothing remains 33for him to devour, Therefore 34his prosperity does not endure.22In the fullness of his plenty he will be cramped; The 35hand of everyone who suffers will come against him.23When he 36fills his belly, God will send His fierce anger on him And will 37rain it on him 38while he is eating.24He may 39flee from the iron weapon, But the bronze bow will pierce him.25It is drawn forth and comes out of his back, Even the glittering point from 40his gall. 41Terrors come upon him,26Complete 42darkness is held in reserve for his treasures, And unfanned 43fire will devour him; It will consume the survivor in his tent.27The 44heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him.28The 45increase of his house will depart; His possessions will flow away 46in the day of His anger.29This is the wicked man’s 47portion from God, Even the heritage decreed to him by God.”