Chapter 20
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered ,
2 " Therefore my thoughts answer me , even by reason of my haste that is in me .
3 I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame . The spirit of my understanding answers me .
4 Don’t you know this from old time , since man was placed on earth,
5 that the triumphing of the wicked is short , the joy of the godless but for a moment ?
6 Though his height mount up to the heavens , and his head reach to the clouds ,
7 yet he will perish forever like his own dung . Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he ?’
8 He will fly away as a dream , and will not be found . Yes, he will be chased away like a vision of the night .
9 The eye which saw him will see him no more , neither will his place see him any more .
10 His children will seek the favor of the poor . His hands will give back his wealth.
11 His bones are full of his youth , but youth will lie down with him in the dust .
12 "Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth , though he hide it under his tongue ,
13 though he spare it , and will not let it go , but keep it still within his mouth ,
14 yet his food in his bowels is turned . It is cobra venom within him .
15 He has swallowed down riches , and he will vomit them up again . God will cast them out of his belly.
16 He will suck cobra venom . The viper’s tongue will kill him .
17 He will not look at the rivers , the flowing streams of honey and butter .
18 He will restore that for which he labored, and will not swallow it down . He will not rejoice according to the substance that he has gotten.
19 For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor . He has violently taken away a house , and he will not build it up .
20 " Because he knew no quietness within him , he will not save anything of that in which he delights.
21 There was nothing left that he didn’t devour, therefore his prosperity will not endure .
22 In the fullness of his sufficiency , distress will overtake him . The hand of everyone who is in misery will come on him .
23 When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him . It will rain on him while he is eating .
24 He will flee from the iron weapon . The bronze arrow will strike him through .
25 He draws it out , and it comes out of his body . Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on him .
26 All darkness is laid up for his treasures . An unfanned fire will devour him . It will consume that which is left in his tent.
27 The heavens will reveal his iniquity . The earth will rise up against him .
28 The increase of his house will depart . They will rush away in the day of his wrath.
29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the heritage appointed to him by God."