20:1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
20:1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

20:2 Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, Even by reason of my haste that is in me.
20:2 "Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me respond, Even because of my inward agitation.

20:3 I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame; And the spirit of my understanding answereth me.
20:3 "I listened to the reproof which insults me, And the spirit of my understanding makes me answer.

20:4 Knowest thou (not) this of old time, Since man was placed upon earth,
20:4 "Do you know this from of old, From the establishment of man on earth,

20:5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless but for a moment?
20:5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless momentary?

20:6 Though his height mount up to the heavens, And his head reach unto the clouds;
20:6 "Though his loftiness reaches the heavens, And his head touches the clouds,

20:7 Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: They that have seen him shall say, Where is he?
20:7 He perishes forever like his refuse; Those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'

20:8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: Yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.
20:8 "He flies away like a dream, and they cannot find him; Even like a vision of the night he is chased away.

20:9 The eye which saw him shall see him no more; Neither shall his place any more behold him.
20:9 "The eye which saw him sees him no more, And his place no longer beholds him.

20:10 His children shall seek the favor of the poor, And his hands shall give back his wealth.
20:10 "His sons favor the poor, And his hands give back his wealth.

20:11 His bones are full of his youth, But it shall lie down with him in the dust.
20:11 "His bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it lies down with him in the dust.

20:12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, Though he hide it under his tongue,
20:12 "Though evil is sweet in his mouth, [And] he hides it under his tongue,

20:13 Though he spare it, and will not let it go, But keep it still within his mouth;
20:13 [Though] he desires it and will not let it go, But holds it in his mouth,

20:14 Yet his food in his bowels is turned, It is the gall of asps within him.
20:14 [Yet] his food in his stomach is changed To the venom of cobras within him.

20:15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again; God will cast them out of his belly.
20:15 "He swallows riches, But will vomit them up; God will expel them from his belly.

20:16 He shall suck the poison of asps: The viper's tongue shall slay him.
20:16 "He sucks the poison of cobras; The viper's tongue slays him.

20:17 He shall not look upon the rivers, The flowing streams of honey and butter.
20:17 "He does not look at the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and curds.

20:18 That which he labored for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down; According to the substance that he hath gotten, he shall not rejoice.
20:18 "He returns what he has attained And cannot swallow [it;] As to the riches of his trading, He cannot even enjoy [them.]

20:19 For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; He hath violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.
20:19 "For he has oppressed [and] forsaken the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built.

20:20 Because he knew no quietness within him, He shall not save aught of that wherein he delighteth.
20:20 "Because he knew no quiet within him He does not retain anything he desires.

20:21 There was nothing left that he devoured not; Therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
20:21 "Nothing remains for him to devour, Therefore his prosperity does not endure.

20:22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: The hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon him.
20:22 "In the fulness of his plenty he will be cramped; The hand of everyone who suffers will come [against] him.

20:23 When he is about to fill his belly, (God) will cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, And will rain it upon him while he is eating.
20:23 "When he fills his belly, [God] will send His fierce anger on him And will rain [it] on him while he is eating.

20:24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, And the bow of brass shall strike him through.
20:24 "He may flee from the iron weapon, [But] the bronze bow will pierce him.

20:25 He draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body; Yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall: Terrors are upon him.
20:25 "It is drawn forth and comes out of his back, Even the glittering point from his gall. Terrors come upon him,

20:26 All darkness is laid up for his treasures: A fire not blown (by man) shall devour him; It shall consume that which is left in his tent.
20:26 Complete darkness is held in reserve for his treasures, And unfanned fire will devour him; It will consume the survivor in his tent.

20:27 The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, And the earth shall rise up against him.
20:27 "The heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him.

20:28 The increase of his house shall depart; (His goods) shall flow away in the day of his wrath.
20:28 "The increase of his house will depart; [His possessions] will flow away in the day of His anger.

20:29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, And the heritage appointed unto him by God.
20:29 "This is the wicked man's portion from God, Even the heritage decreed to him by God."