Job 20

MSTC^{(i) 1} Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, ² "For the same cause do my thoughts compel me to answer. And why? My mind is tossed here and there. ³ I have sufficiently heard thy checking and reproof; therefore am I purposed to make answer after mine understanding. ⁴ Knowest thou not this, namely: that from the beginning - ever since the creation of man upon earth - ⁵ the praise of the ungodly hath been short, and that the joy of the hypocrites continued but the twinkling of an eye? ⁶ Though he be magnified up to the heaven, so that his head reacheth into the clouds: ⁷ yet he perisheth at the last, like dung. Insomuch that they which have seen him, say, 'Where is he?' ⁸ He vanisheth as a dream, so that he can no more be found, and passeth away as a vision in the night. ⁹ So that the eye which saw him before, getteth now no sight of him, and his place knoweth him no more. ¹⁰ "His children shall be fain to agree with the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods. ¹¹ From his youth his bones are full of vice; but now shall it lie down with him in the earth. ¹² When wickedness was sweet in his mouth, he hid it under his tongue. ¹³ That he favoured, that would he not forsake; but kept it close in his throat. ¹⁴ The bread that he did eat is turned to the poison of serpents, within his body. ¹⁵ The riches that he devoured, shall he vomit out again; for God shall draw them out of his belly. ¹⁶ He shall suck the serpent's gall, and the adder's tongue shall slay him: ¹⁷ so that he shall no more see the rivers, and brooks of honey and butter. ¹⁸ But he shall labour, and yet have nothing to eat. Great travail shall he make for riches, but he shall not enjoy them. ¹⁹ And why? He hath oppressed the poor, and not helped them: houses hath he spoiled, and not builded them. ²⁰ His belly could never be filled; therefore shall he perish in his covetousness. ²¹ He devoured so greedily that he left nothing behind; therefore his goods shall not prosper. ²² Though he had plenteousness of everything, yet was he poor, and therefore he is but a wretch on every side. ²³ "For though the wicked have never so much to fill his belly, yet God shall send his wrath upon him, and cause his indignation to rain over him: ²⁴ so that if he flee the iron weapons, he shall be shot with the steel bow. ²⁵ The arrow shall be taken forth, and go out at his back; and a glistering sword through the gall of him. Fear shall come upon him. ²⁶ There shall no darkness be able to hide him. An unkindled fire shall consume him; and look, what remaineth in his house, it shall be destroyed. ²⁷ The heaven shall declare his wickedness, and the earth shall take part against him. ²⁸ The substance that he hath in his house, shall be taken away and perish, in the day of the LORD's wrath. ²⁹ This is the portion that the wicked shall have of God, and the heritage that he may look for of the LORD."