Job 20 — ULB

20Verse 1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,^{Verse 2}“My thoughts make me answer quickly
because of the worry that is in me.
^{Verse 3}I hear a rebuke that dishonors me,
but a spirit from my understanding answers me.
^{Verse 4}Do you not know this fact from ancient times,
when God placed man on earth:
^{Verse 5}the triumph of a wicked man is short,
and the joy of a godless man lasts only for a moment?
^{Verse 6}Though his height reaches up to the heavens,
and his head reaches to the clouds,
^{Verse 7}yet such a person will perish permanently like his own feces;
those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'
^{Verse 8}He will fly away like a dream and will not be found;
indeed, he will be chased away like a vision of the night.
^{Verse 9}The eye that saw him will see him no more;
his place will see him no longer.
^{Verse 10}His children will apologize to poor people;
his hands will have to give back his wealth.
^{Verse 11}His bones are full of youthful strength,
but it will lie down with him in the dust.
^{Verse 12}Although wickedness is sweet in his mouth,
although he hides it under his tongue,
^{Verse 13}although he holds it there and does not let it go
but keeps it still in his mouth—
^{Verse 14}the food in his intestines turns bitter;
it becomes the poison of asps inside him.
^{Verse 15}He swallows down riches, but he will vomit them up again;
God will cast them out of his stomach.
^{Verse 16}He will suck the poison of asps;
the viper's tongue will kill him.
^{Verse 17}He will not enjoy the streams,
the torrents of honey and butter.
^{Verse 18}He will give back the fruit of his labor and will not be able to eat it;
he will not enjoy the wealth earned by his commerce.
^{Verse 19}For he has oppressed and neglected poor people;
he has violently taken away houses that he did not build.
^{Verse 20}Because he has known no satisfaction himself,
he will not be able to save anything in which he takes pleasure.
^{Verse 21}There is nothing left that he did not devour;
therefore his prosperity will not be permanent.
^{Verse 22}In the abundance of his wealth he will fall into trouble;
the hand of everyone who is in poverty will come against him.
^{Verse 23}When he is about to fill his stomach, God will throw the fierceness of his wrath on him;
God will rain it down on him while he is eating.
^{Verse 24}Although that man will flee from the iron weapon,
a bow of bronze will shoot him.
^{Verse 25}He pulls it out of his back
and the gleaming point comes out of his liver.
Terrors come over him.
^{Verse 26}Complete darkness is reserved for his treasures;
a fire not fanned will devour him;
it will consume what is left in his tent.
^{Verse 27}The heavens will reveal his iniquity,
and the earth will rise up against him as a witness.
^{Verse 28}The wealth of his house will vanish;
his goods will flow away on the day of God's wrath.
^{Verse 29}This is the wicked man's portion from God,
the heritage reserved for him by God.”