Job 20 (New International Version)

Zophar

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite¹ replied: 2 "My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer because I am greatly disturbed.² 3 I hear a rebuke³ that dishonors me, and my understanding inspires me to reply. 4 "Surely you know how it has been from of old,⁴ ever since man^a was placed on the earth, 5 that the mirth of the wicked⁵ is brief, the joy of the godless⁶ lasts but a moment.⁷ 6 Though his pride⁸ reaches to the heavens⁹ and his head touches the clouds,¹⁰ 7 he will perish forever,¹¹ like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'¹² 8 Like a dream¹³ he flies away,¹⁴ no more to be found, banished¹⁵ like a vision of the night.¹⁶ 9 The eye that saw him will not see him again; his place will look on him no more.¹⁷ 10 His children¹⁸ must make amends to the poor; his own hands must give back his wealth.¹⁹ 11 The youthful vigor²⁰ that fills his bones²¹ will lie with him in the dust.²² 12 "Though evil²³ is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue,²⁴ 13 though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth,²⁵ 14 yet his food will turn sour in his stomach;²⁶ it will become the venom of serpents²⁷ within him. 15 He will spit out the riches²⁸ he swallowed; God will make his stomach vomit²⁹ them up. 16 He will suck the poison³⁰ of serpents; the fangs of an adder will kill him.³¹ 17 He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers³² flowing with honey³³ and cream.³⁴ 18 What he toiled for he must give back uneaten;³⁵ he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.³⁶ 19 For he has oppressed the poor³⁷ and left them destitute;³⁸ he has seized houses³⁹ he did not build. 20 "Surely he will have no respite from his craving;⁴⁰ he cannot save himself by his treasure.⁴¹ 21 Nothing is left for him to devour; his prosperity will not endure.⁴² 22 In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him;⁴³ the full force of misery will come upon him.⁴⁴ 23 When he has filled his belly,⁴⁵ God will vent his burning anger⁴⁶ against him and rain down his blows upon him.⁴⁷ 24 Though he flees⁴⁸ from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.⁴⁹ 25 He pulls it out of his back, the gleaming point out of his liver. Terrors⁵⁰ will come over him;⁵¹ 26 total darkness⁵² lies in wait for his treasures. A fire⁵³ unfanned will consume him⁵⁴ and devour what is left in his tent.⁵⁵ 27 The heavens will expose his guilt; the earth will rise up against him.⁵⁶ 28 A flood will carry off his house,⁵⁷ rushing waters^b on the day of God's wrath.⁵⁸ 29 Such is the fate God allots the wicked, the heritage appointed for them by God."⁵⁹