Job 20
JPS Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)
World English Bible
1Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:
1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,
2Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of mine agitation that is in me.
2“Therefore my thoughts answer me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.
3I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame, but out of my understanding my spirit answereth me.
3I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame. The spirit of my understanding answers me.
4Knowest thou not this of old time, since man was placed upon earth,
4Don’t you know this from old time, since man was placed on earth,
5That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment?
5that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?
6Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;
6Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,
7Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung; they that have seen him shall say: 'Where is he?'
7yet he will perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
8He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found; yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.
8He will fly away as a dream, and will not be found. Yes, he will be chased away like a vision of the night.
9The eye which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.
9The eye which saw him will see him no more, neither will his place see him any more.
10His children shall appease the poor, and his hands shall restore his wealth.
10His children will seek the favor of the poor. His hands will give back his wealth.
11His bones are full of his youth, but it shall lie down with him in the dust.
11His bones are full of his youth, but youth will lie down with him in the dust.
12Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;
12“Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,
13Though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;
13though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth,
14Yet his food in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.
14yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him.
15He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again; God shall cast them out of his belly.
15He has swallowed down riches, and he will vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.
16He shall suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue shall slay him.
16He will suck cobra venom. The viper’s tongue will kill him.
17He shall not look upon the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and curd.
17He will not look at the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.
18That which he laboured for shall he give back, and shall not swallow it down; according to the substance that he hath gotten, he shall not rejoice.
18He will restore that for which he labored, and will not swallow it down. He will not rejoice according to the substance that he has gotten.
19For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.
19For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he will not build it up.
20Because he knew no quietness within him, in his greed he suffered nought to escape,
20“Because he knew no quietness within him, he will not save anything of that in which he delights.
21There was nothing left that he devoured not — therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
21There was nothing left that he didn’t devour, therefore his prosperity will not endure.
22In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits; the hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon him.
22In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress will overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery will come on him.
23It shall be for the filling of his belly; He shall cast the fierceness of His wrath upon him, and shall cause it to rain upon him into his flesh.
23When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.
24If he flee from the iron weapon, the bow of brass shall strike him through.
24He will flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow will strike him through.
25He draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body; yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall; terrors are upon him.
25He draws it out, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on him.
26All darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not blown by man shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tent.
26All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire will devour him. It will consume that which is left in his tent.
27The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.
27The heavens will reveal his iniquity. The earth will rise up against him.
28The increase of his house shall depart, his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.
28The increase of his house will depart. They will rush away in the day of his wrath.
29This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.
29This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the heritage appointed to him by God.”
Tip: use the ← and → keys to turn chapters.