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." |