Chapter 20

Zophar Says, “The Triumph of the Wicked Is Short”

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite 1answered,

2 “Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me 1respond,

Even because of my 2inward agitation.

3 “I listened to athe reproof which insults me,

And the spirit of my understanding makes me answer.

4 “Do you know this from aof old,

From the establishment of man on earth,

5 That the atriumphing of the wicked is short,

And bthe joy of the godless momentary?

6 “Though his loftiness 1areaches the heavens,

And his head touches the clouds,

7 He aperishes forever like his refuse;

Those who have seen him bwill say, ‘Where is he?’

8 “He flies away like a adream, and they cannot find him;

Even like a vision of the night he is bchased away.

9 “The aeye which saw him sees him no longer,

And bhis place no longer beholds him.

10 “His asons 1favor the poor,

And his hands bgive back his wealth.

11 “His abones are full of his youthful vigor,

But it lies down with him 1in the dust.

12 “Though aevil is sweet in his mouth

And he hides it under his tongue,

13 Though he 1desires it and will not let it go,

But holds it ain his 2mouth,

14 Yet his food in his stomach is changed

To the 1venom of cobras within him.

15 “He swallows riches,

But will avomit them up;

God will expel them from his belly.

16 “He sucks athe poison of cobras;

The viper’s tongue slays him.

17 “He does not look at athe streams,

The rivers flowing with honey and curds.

18 “He areturns what he has attained

And cannot swallow it;

As to the riches of his trading,

He cannot even enjoy them.

19 “For he has aoppressed and forsaken the poor;

He has seized a house which he has not built.

20 “Because he knew no quiet 1within him,

He does anot retain anything he desires.

21 “Nothing remains 1for him to devour,

Therefore ahis prosperity does not endure.

22 “In the fullness of his plenty he will be cramped;

The ahand of everyone who suffers will come against him.

23 “When he afills his belly,

God will send His fierce anger on him

And will brain it on him 1while he is eating.

24 “He may aflee from the iron weapon,

But the bronze bow will pierce him.

25 “It is drawn forth and comes out of his back,

Even the glittering point from ahis gall.

bTerrors come upon him,

26 Complete adarkness is held in reserve for his treasures,

And unfanned bfire will devour him;

It will consume the survivor in his tent.

27 “The aheavens will reveal his iniquity,

And the earth will rise up against him.

28 “The aincrease of his house will depart;

His possessions will flow away bin the day of His anger.

29 “This is the wicked man’s aportion from God,

Even the heritage decreed to him by God.”