| 20:1 |
Then Zophar the Naamathite made answer and said, |
| 20:2 |
For this cause my thoughts are troubling me and driving me on. |
| 20:3 |
I have to give ear to arguments which put me to shame, and your answers to me are wind without wisdom. |
| 20:4 |
Have you knowledge of this from early times, when man was placed on the earth, |
| 20:5 |
That the pride of the sinner is short, and the joy of the evil-doer but for a minute? |
| 20:6 |
Though he is lifted up to the heavens, and his head goes up to the clouds; |
| 20:7 |
Like the waste from his body he comes to an end for ever: those who have seen him say, Where is he? |
| 20:8 |
He is gone like a dream, and is not seen again; he goes in flight like a vision of the night. |
| 20:9 |
The eye which saw him sees him no longer; and his place has no more knowledge of him. |
| 20:10 |
His children are hoping that the poor will be kind to them, and his hands give back his wealth. |
| 20:11 |
His bones are full of young strength, but it will go down with him into the dust. |
| 20:12 |
Though evil-doing is sweet in his mouth, and he keeps it secretly under his tongue; |
| 20:13 |
Though he takes care of it, and does not let it go, but keeps it still in his mouth; |
| 20:14 |
His food becomes bitter in his stomach; the poison of snakes is inside him. |
| 20:15 |
He takes down wealth as food, and sends it up again; it is forced out of his stomach by God. |
| 20:16 |
He takes the poison of snakes into his mouth, the tongue of the snake is the cause of his death. |
| 20:17 |
Let him not see the rivers of oil, the streams of honey and milk. |
| 20:18 |
He is forced to give back the fruit of his work, and may not take it for food; he has no joy in the profit of his trading. |
| 20:19 |
Because he has been cruel to the poor, turning away from them in their trouble; because he has taken a house by force which he did not put up; |
| 20:20 |
There is no peace for him in his wealth, and no salvation for him in those things in which he took delight. |
| 20:21 |
He had never enough for his desire; for this cause his well-being will quickly come to an end. |
| 20:22 |
Even when his wealth is great, he is full of care, for the hand of everyone who is in trouble is turned against him. |
| 20:23 |
God gives him his desire, and sends the heat of his wrath on him, making it come down on him like rain. |
| 20:24 |
He may go in flight from the iron spear, but the arrow from the bow of brass will go through him; |
| 20:25 |
He is pulling it out, and it comes out of his back; and its shining point comes out of his side; he is overcome by fears. |
| 20:26 |
All his wealth is stored up for the dark: a fire not made by man sends destruction on him, and on everything in his tent. |
| 20:27 |
The heavens make clear his sin, and the earth gives witness against him. |
| 20:28 |
The produce of his house is taken away into another country, like things given into the hands of others in the day of wrath. |
| 20:29 |
This is the reward of the evil man, and the heritage given to him by God. |
