Hiob 20:13-23

13 und es aufsparte und nicht fahren ließ und es zurückhielt unter seinem Gaumen:

14 so ist doch nun seine Speise in seinen Eingeweiden verwandelt; Natterngalle ist in seinem Innern.

15 Reichtum hat er verschlungen, und er speit ihn aus: aus seinem Bauche treibt Gott ihn heraus.

16 Natterngift sog er ein: es tötet ihn die Zunge der Otter.

17 Nicht darf er sich laben an Bächen, flutenden Strömen von Honig und Milch.

18 Das Errungene gibt er zurück, und er darf es nicht verschlingen; gemäß dem Vermögen, das er erworben, darf er sich nicht freuen.

19 Denn er hat mißhandelt, verlassen die Armen; Häuser hat er an sich gerissen und wird sie nicht ausbauen.

20 Denn er kannte keine Ruhe in seinem Innern: mit seinem Teuersten wird er nicht entrinnen.

21 Nichts entging seiner Freßgier; darum wird sein Wohlstand nicht dauernd sein.

22 In der Fülle seines Überflusses wird er in Bedrängnis sein; die Hand jedes Notleidenden wird über ihn kommen.

23 Es wird geschehen: um seinen Bauch zu füllen, wird Gott die Glut seines Zornes in ihn entsenden, und sie auf ihn regnen lassen in sein Fleisch hinein.

Hiob 20:13-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 20

Zophar and his friends, not satisfied with Job's confession of faith, he in his turn replies, and in his preface gives his reasons why he made any answer at all, and was so quick in it, Job 20:1-3; and appeals to Job for the truth of an old established maxim, that the prosperity of wicked men and hypocrites is very short lived, Job 20:4,5; and the short enjoyment of their happiness is described by several elegant figures and similes, Job 20:6-9; such a wicked man being obliged, in his lifetime, to restore his ill gotten goods, and at death to lie down with the sins of his youth, Job 20:10,11; his sin in getting riches, the disquietude of his mind in retaining them, and his being forced to make restitution, are very beautifully expressed by the simile of a sweet morsel kept in the mouth, and turned to the gall of asps in the bowels, and then vomited up, Job 20:12-16; the disappointment he shall have, the indigent and strait circumstances he shall be brought into, and the restitution he shall be obliged to make for the oppression of the poor, and the uneasiness he shall feel in his own breast, are set forth in a very strong light, Job 20:17-22; and it is suggested, that not only the hand of wicked men should be upon him, but the wrath of God also, which should seize on him suddenly and secretly, and would be inevitable, he not being able to make his escape from it, and which would issue in the utter destruction of him and his in this world, and that to come, Job 20:23-28. And the chapter is, concluded with this observation, that such as before described is the appointed portion and heritage of a wicked man from God, Job 20:29.