20:1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

20:2 This is why¹ my troubled thoughts bring me back²
—because of my feelings³ within me.
20:3 When⁴ I hear a reproof that dishonors⁵ me,
then my understanding⁶
prompts me to answer.⁷
20:4 Surely you know⁸ that it has been from old,
ever since man was placed⁹ on the earth,
20:5 that the elation of the wicked is brief,¹⁰
the joy of the godless¹¹
lasts but for a moment.¹²
20:6 Even though his stature¹³ reaches to the heavens
and his head touches the clouds,
20:7 he will perish forever, like his own dung,¹⁴
those who used to see him will say, “Where is he?”
20:8 Like a dream he flies away, no more to be found,¹⁵
and like a vision of the night he is put to flight.
20:9 The eye that had seen him will not see him again,
and the place where he was
will recognize him no longer.
20:10 His sons must recompense¹⁶ the poor;
his own hands¹⁷ must give back his wealth.
20:11 His bones¹⁸ were full of his youthful vigor,¹⁹
but it will lie down with him in the dust.
20:12 If²⁰ evil is sweet in his mouth
and he hides it under his tongue,²¹
20:13 if he spares it for himself
and does not let it go,
and holds it fast in his mouth,²²
20:14 his food is turned sour²³ in his stomach,²⁴
it becomes the venom of serpents²⁵ within him.
20:15 The wealth that he consumed²⁶ he vomits up,
God casts it out²⁷ of his belly.
20:16 He sucks the poison²⁸ of serpents,²⁹
the fangs of a viper³⁰ kill him.
20:17 He will not look on the streams,³¹
the rivers, which are the torrents³²
of honey and butter.³³
20:18 He gives back the ill-gotten gain³⁴
without assimilating it;³⁵
he will not enjoy the wealth from his exchange.³⁶
20:19 For he has oppressed the poor and abandoned them;³⁷
he has seized a house which he did not build.³⁸
20:20 For knows no satisfaction in his appetite,³⁹
he does not let escape⁴⁰
anything he desires.⁴¹
20:21 Nothing is left for him to devour,⁴²
that is why his prosperity does not last.⁴³
20:22 In the fullness of his sufficiency,⁴⁴
distress⁴⁵ overtakes him.
the full force of misery will come upon him.⁴⁶
20:23 When he is⁴⁷ filling his belly,
God⁴⁸ sends his burning anger⁴⁹ against him,
and rain down his blows upon him.⁵⁰
20:24 If he flees from an iron weapon,
then a bronze bow pierces him.
20:25 When he pulls it out⁵¹ and it comes out of his back,
the gleaming point⁵² out of his liver,
terrors come over him.
20:26 Total darkness lies in wait for his treasures;⁵³
a fire which has not been kindled⁵⁴
will consume him
and devour what is left in his tent.
20:27 The heavens reveal his iniquity;
the earth rises up against him.
20:28 A flood will carry off his house,
rushing waters on the day of God’s wrath.
20:29 Such is the lot God allots the wicked,
and the heritage of his appointment⁵⁵ from God.