20:1  And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

20:2  "Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, even because of my inner turmoil.

20:3  I have heard the rebuke which puts me to shame, and the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer.

20:4  Do you not know this from days of old, since man was placed upon earth,

20:5  That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite is for a moment?

20:6  Though his excellency mounts up to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds,

20:7  He shall perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him shall say, 'Where is he?'

20:8  He shall fly away like a dream, and shall not be found, yea, he shall be chased away like a vision of the night.

20:9  The eye also which saw him, shall see him no more; yea, neither shall his place see him any longer.

20:10  His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall give back his wealth.

20:11  His bones are full of his youthful vigor, but it shall lie down with him in the dust.

20:12  Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue;

20:13  Though he desires it and will not let it go; but, keeps it still within his mouth;

20:14  Yet his food in his belly shall be turned and become the gall of asps within him.

20:15  He has swallowed riches, but he shall vomit them up again; God shall cast them out of his belly.

20:16  He shall suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue shall slay him.

20:17  He shall not see the rivers, the flowings of the brooks of honey and butter,

20:18  That which he labored for shall he give back, and shall not swallow it down: according to his possessions shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice in it.

20:19  For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; and has violently seized a house which he did not build.

20:20  Surely he did not know rest in his heart; that in which he delights, he will not save anything.

20:21  There was nothing left for him to devour. Therefore, his prosperity shall not endure.

20:22  In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in trouble; every hand of the wicked shall come against him.

20:23  When he is filling his belly, God shall cast the fury of His wrath upon him, and He shall rain it upon him while he is eating.

20:24  If he shall flee from the iron weapon, a bow of bronze shall pierce him through.

20:25  It will be pulled and come out of his body, yea, the glittering sword comes out of his gall; terrors come upon him.

20:26  All darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not blown by man shall consume him; those left in his tabernacle shall be broken.

20:27  The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.

20:28  The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

20:29  This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and his heritage decreed by God."