20:1  Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

20:2  "Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me respond, Even because of my inward agitation.

20:3  "I listened to the reproof which insults me, And the spirit of my understanding makes me answer.

20:4  "Do you know this from of old, From the establishment of man on earth,

20:5  That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless momentary?

20:6  "Though his loftiness reaches the heavens, And his head touches the clouds,

20:7  He perishes forever like his refuse; Those who have seen him will say, `Where is he?'

20:8  "He flies away like a dream, and they cannot find him; Even like a vision of the night he is chased away.

20:9  "The eye which saw him sees him no longer, And his place no longer beholds him.

20:10  "His sons favor the poor, And his hands give back his wealth.

20:11  "His bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it lies down with him in the dust.

20:12  "Though evil is sweet in his mouth {And} he hides it under his tongue,

20:13  {Though} he desires it and will not let it go, But holds it in his mouth,

20:14  {Yet} his food in his stomach is changed To the venom of cobras within him.

20:15  "He swallows riches, But will vomit them up; God will expel them from his belly.

20:16  "He sucks the poison of cobras; The viper's tongue slays him.

20:17  "He does not look at the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and curds.

20:18  "He returns what he has attained And cannot swallow {it;} As to the riches of his trading, He cannot even enjoy {them.}

20:19  "For he has oppressed {and} forsaken the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built.

20:20  "Because he knew no quiet within him, He does not retain anything he desires.

20:21  "Nothing remains for him to devour, Therefore his prosperity does not endure.

20:22  "In the fullness of his plenty he will be cramped; The hand of everyone who suffers will come {against} him.

20:23  "When he fills his belly, {God} will send His fierce anger on him And will rain {it} on him while he is eating.

20:24  "He may flee from the iron weapon, {But} the bronze bow will pierce him.

20:25  "It is drawn forth and comes out of his back, Even the glittering point from his gall. Terrors come upon him,

20:26  Complete darkness is held in reserve for his treasures, And unfanned fire will devour him; It will consume the survivor in his tent.

20:27  "The heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him.

20:28  "The increase of his house will depart; {His possessions} will flow away in the day of His anger.

20:29  "This is the wicked man's portion from God, Even the heritage decreed to him by God."