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