Job 15:17–35

¹⁷“I will show you, listen to me;

and what I have seen, I will tell^j—

¹⁸what wise men have told,

and they have not hidden that which is from their ancestors,

¹⁹to whom alone^k the land was given,

and no stranger passed through their midst.

²⁰“All of the wicked one’s days he is writhing,

even^l through the number of years that are laid up for the tyrant.

²¹Sounds of terror are in his ears;

in prosperity the destroyer will come against him.

²²He cannot trust that he will return^m from darkness,

and he himselfⁿ is destined for the sword.

²³“He is wandering for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’

He knows that a day of darkness is ready at hand.^o

²⁴Anguish and distress terrify him;

they^p overpower him like a king ready for the battle.

²⁵Because he stretched out his hand against God,

and he was arrogant to Shaddai;

²⁶he stubbornly^q runs against him

with his thick-bossed shield.^r

²⁷“Because he has covered his face with his fat

and has gathered fat upon his loins,

²⁸he will dwell^s in desolate cities,

in houses that they should not inhabit,

which are destined for rubble.

²⁹He will not become rich, and his wealth will not endure,

and their possessions will not stretch across the earth.^t

³⁰“He will not escape from darkness;

a flame will dry up his new shoot,

and by the wind of his mouth he shall be removed.

³¹Let him not trust in emptiness—he will be deceiving himself—

for worthlessness will be his recompense.

³²It will be paid in full before his time,^u

and his branch will not flourish.

³³“He will shake off his unripe fruit like the vine,

and he will cast off his blossom like the olive tree;

³⁴for the company of the godless is barren,

and fire consumes the tents of those who accept bribes.

³⁵They conceive trouble and bring forth mischief,

and their womb prepares deceit.”