Job 20

1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, 2even by reason of my haste that is in me. “Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, 3The spirit of my understanding answers me. I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame. 4since man was placed on earth, Don’t you know this from old time, 5the joy of the godless but for a moment? that the triumphing of the wicked is short, 6and his head reach to the clouds, Though his height mount up to the heavens, 7Those who have seen him shall say, ‘Where is he?’ yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. 8Yes, he shall be chased away like a vision of the night. He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found. 9neither shall his place any more see him. The eye which saw him shall see him no more, 10His hands shall give back his wealth. His children shall seek the favor of the poor. 11but youth shall lie down with him in the dust. His bones are full of his youth, 12though he hide it under his tongue, “Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, 13but keep it still within his mouth; though he spare it, and will not let it go, 14It is cobra venom within him. yet his food in his bowels is turned. 15God will cast them out of his belly. He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. 16The viper’s tongue shall kill him. He shall suck cobra venom. 17the flowing streams of honey and butter. He shall not look at the rivers, 18According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice. That for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down. 19He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up. For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. 20he shall not save anything of that in which he delights. “Because he knew no quietness within him, 21therefore his prosperity shall not endure. There was nothing left that he didn’t devour, 22The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come on him. In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress shall overtake him. 23It will rain on him while he is eating. When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. 24The bronze arrow shall strike him through. He shall flee from the iron weapon. 25Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on him. He draws it out, and it comes out of his body. 26An unfanned fire shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent. All darkness is laid up for his treasures. 27The earth shall rise up against him. The heavens shall reveal his iniquity. 28They shall rush away in the day of his wrath. The increase of his house shall depart. 29the heritage appointed to him by God.” This is the portion of a wicked man from God,