Hiob 20:5-15

5 der Jubel der Gesetzlosen kurz und die Freude des Ruchlosen für einen Augenblick war?
6 Stiege auch seine Höhe bis zum Himmel hinauf, und rührte sein Haupt an die Wolken:
7 gleich seinem Kote vergeht er auf ewig; die ihn gesehen haben, sagen: Wo ist er?
8 Wie ein Traum verfliegt er, und man findet ihn nicht, und er wird hinweggescheucht wie ein Nachtgesicht.
9 Das Auge hat ihn erblickt und sieht ihn nimmer wieder, und seine Stätte gewahrt ihn nicht mehr.
10 Seine Kinder müssen die Armen begütigen, und seine Hände sein Vermögen zurückgeben.
11 Seine Knochen waren voll seiner Jugendkraft, und sie liegt mit ihm in dem Staube. -
12 Wenn das Böse in seinem Munde süß war, und er es verbarg unter seiner Zunge,
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.

Hiob 20:5-15 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.

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