Job

The book of Job, chapter 20, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 20 New English Translation

Zophar's Second Speech

   1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:
   2 "This is why my troubled thoughts bring me back - because of my feelings within me.
   3 When I hear a reproof that dishonors me, then my understanding prompts me to answer.
   4 "Surely you know that it has been from old, ever since humankind was placed on the earth,
   5 that the elation of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment.
   6 Even though his stature reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds,
   7 he will perish forever, like his own excrement; those who used to see him will say, 'Where is he?'
   8 Like a dream he flies away, never again to be found, and like a vision of the night he is put to flight.
   9 People who had seen him will not see him again, and the place where he was will recognize him no longer.
   10 His sons must recompense the poor; his own hands must return his wealth.
   11 His bones were full of his youthful vigor, but that vigor will lie down with him in the dust.
   12 "If evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue,
   13 if he retains it for himself and does not let it go, and holds it fast in his mouth,
   14 his food is turned sour in his stomach; it becomes the venom of serpents within him.
   15 The wealth that he consumed he vomits up, God will make him throw it out of his stomach.
   16 He sucks the poison of serpents; the fangs of a viper kill him.
   17 He will not look on the streams, the rivers, which are the torrents of honey and butter.
   18 He gives back the ill-gotten gain without assimilating it; he will not enjoy the wealth from his commerce.
   19 For he has oppressed the poor and abandoned them; he has seized a house which he did not build.
   20 For he knows no satisfaction in his appetite; he does not let anything he desires escape.
   21 "Nothing is left for him to devour; that is why his prosperity does not last.
   22 In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress overtakes him. the full force of misery will come upon him.
   23 "While he is filling his belly, God sends his burning anger against him, and rains down his blows upon him.
   24 If he flees from an iron weapon, then an arrow from a bronze bow pierces him.
   25 When he pulls it out and it comes out of his back, the gleaming point out of his liver, terrors come over him.
   26 Total darkness waits to receive his treasures; a fire which has not been kindled will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.
   27 The heavens reveal his iniquity; the earth rises up against him.
   28 A flood will carry off his house, rushing waters on the day of God's wrath.
   29 Such is the lot God allots the wicked, and the heritage of his appointment from God."

King James Version

   1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
   2 Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.
   3 I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.
   4 Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,
   5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?
   6 Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;
   7 Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which 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 also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.
   10 His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.
   11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which 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 forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:
   14 Yet his meat 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 shall 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 see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.
   18 That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.
   19 Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;
   20 Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.
   21 There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.
   22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.
   23 When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.
   24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.
   25 It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.
   26 All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.
   27 The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.
   28 The increase of his house shall depart, and 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.