Job Chapter 20 (NIV)

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undefined ZopharThen Zophar the Naamathite replied:

undefined “My troubled thoughts prompt me to answerbecause I am greatly disturbed.

undefined I hear a rebuke that dishonors me,and my understanding inspires me to reply.

undefined “Surely you know how it has been from of old,ever since man was placed on the earth,

undefined that the mirth of the wicked is brief,the joy of the godless lasts but a moment.

undefined Though his pride reaches to the heavensand his head touches the clouds,

undefined he will perish forever, like his own dung;those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’

undefined Like a dream he flies away, no more to be found,banished like a vision of the night.

undefined The eye that saw him will not see him again;his place will look on him no more.

undefined His children must make amends to the poor;his own hands must give back his wealth.

undefined The youthful vigor that fills his boneswill lie with him in the dust.

undefined “Though evil is sweet in his mouthand he hides it under his tongue,

undefined though he cannot bear to let it goand keeps it in his mouth,

undefined yet his food will turn sour in his stomach;it will become the venom of serpents within him.

undefined He will spit out the riches he swallowed;God will make his stomach vomit them up.

undefined He will suck the poison of serpents;the fangs of an adder will kill him.

undefined He will not enjoy the streams,the rivers flowing with honey and cream.

undefined What he toiled for he must give back uneaten;he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.

undefined For he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute;he has seized houses he did not build.

undefined “Surely he will have no respite from his craving;he cannot save himself by his treasure.

undefined Nothing is left for him to devour;his prosperity will not endure.

undefined In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him;the full force of misery will come upon him.

undefined When he has filled his belly,God will vent his burning anger against himand rain down his blows upon him.

undefined Though he flees from an iron weapon,a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.

undefined He pulls it out of his back,the gleaming point out of his liver.Terrors will come over him;

undefined total darkness lies in wait for his treasures.A fire unfanned will consume himand devour what is left in his tent.

undefined The heavens will expose his guilt;the earth will rise up against him.

undefined A flood will carry off his house,rushing waters on the day of God’s wrath.

undefined Such is the fate God allots the wicked,the heritage appointed for them by God.”

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