Job 20:1-29

Job 20:1-29 The Message (MSG)

Zophar from Naamath again took his turn: “I can’t believe what I’m hearing! You’ve put my teeth on edge, my stomach in a knot. How dare you insult my intelligence like this! Well, here’s a piece of my mind! “Don’t you even know the basics, how things have been since the earliest days, when Adam and Eve were first placed on earth? The good times of the wicked are short-lived; godless joy is only momentary. The evil might become world famous, strutting at the head of the celebrity parade, But still end up in a pile of dung. Acquaintances look at them with disgust and say, ‘What’s that?’ They fly off like a dream that can’t be remembered, like a shadowy illusion that vanishes in the light. Though once notorious public figures, now they’re nobodies, unnoticed, whether they come or go. Their children will go begging on skid row, and they’ll have to give back their ill-gotten gain. Right in the prime of life, and youthful and vigorous, they’ll die. “They savor evil as a delicacy, roll it around on their tongues, Prolong the flavor, a dalliance in decadence— real gourmets of evil! But then they get stomach cramps, a bad case of food poisoning. They gag on all that rich food; God makes them vomit it up. They gorge on evil, make a diet of that poison— a deadly diet—and it kills them. No quiet picnics for them beside gentle streams with fresh-baked bread and cheese, and tall, cool drinks. They spit out their food half-chewed, unable to relax and enjoy anything they’ve worked for. And why? Because they exploited the poor, took what never belonged to them. “Such God-denying people are never content with what they have or who they are; their greed drives them relentlessly. They plunder everything but they can’t hold on to any of it. Just when they think they have it all, disaster strikes; they’re served up a plate full of misery. When they’ve filled their bellies with that, God gives them a taste of his anger, and they get to chew on that for a while. As they run for their lives from one disaster, they run smack into another. They’re knocked around from pillar to post, beaten to within an inch of their lives. They’re trapped in a house of horrors, and see their loot disappear down a black hole. Their lives are a total loss— not a penny to their name, not so much as a bean. God will strip them of their sin-soaked clothes and hang their dirty laundry out for all to see. Life is a complete wipeout for them, nothing surviving God’s wrath. There! That’s God’s blueprint for the wicked— what they have to look forward to.”

Job 20:1-29 King James Version (KJV)

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, And for this I make haste. I have heard the check of my reproach, And the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer. Knowest thou not this of old, Since man was placed upon earth, That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, And his head reach unto the clouds; Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: They which have seen him shall say, Where is he? He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: Yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; Neither shall his place any more behold him. His children shall seek to please the poor, And his hands shall restore their goods. His bones are full of the sin of his youth, Which shall lie down with him in the dust. Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, Though he hide it under his tongue; Though he spare it, and forsake it not; But keep it still within his mouth: Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, It is the gall of asps within him. He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly. He shall suck the poison of asps: The viper's tongue shall slay him. He shall not see the rivers, The floods, the brooks of honey and butter. That which he laboured for shall he restore, And shall not swallow it down: According to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein. Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; Because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not; Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, He shall not save of that which he desired. There shall none of his meat be left; Therefore shall no man look for his goods. In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: Every hand of the wicked shall come upon him. When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, And shall rain it upon him while he is eating. He shall flee from the iron weapon, And the bow of steel shall strike him through. It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; Yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: Terrors are upon him. All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: A fire not blown shall consume him; It shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle. The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; And the earth shall rise up against him. The increase of his house shall depart, And his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath. This is the portion of a wicked man from God, And the heritage appointed unto him by God.

Job 20:1-29 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, “Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me respond, Even because of my inward agitation. I listened to the reproof which insults me, And the spirit of my understanding makes me answer. Do you know this from of old, From the establishment of man on earth, That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless momentary? Though his loftiness reaches the heavens, And his head touches the clouds, He perishes forever like his refuse; Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’ He flies away like a dream, and they cannot find him; Even like a vision of the night he is chased away. The eye which saw him sees him no longer, And his place no longer beholds him. His sons favor the poor, And his hands give back his wealth. His bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it lies down with him in the dust. “Though evil is sweet in his mouth And he hides it under his tongue, Though he desires it and will not let it go, But holds it in his mouth, Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the venom of cobras within him. He swallows riches, But will vomit them up; God will expel them from his belly. He sucks the poison of cobras; The viper’s tongue slays him. He does not look at the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and curds. He returns what he has attained And cannot swallow it; As to the riches of his trading, He cannot even enjoy them. For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built. “Because he knew no quiet within him, He does not retain anything he desires. Nothing remains for him to devour, Therefore his prosperity does not endure. In the fullness of his plenty he will be cramped; The hand of everyone who suffers will come against him. When he fills his belly, God will send His fierce anger on him And will rain it on him while he is eating. He may flee from the iron weapon, But the bronze bow will pierce him. It is drawn forth and comes out of his back, Even the glittering point from his gall. Terrors come upon him, Complete darkness is held in reserve for his treasures, And unfanned fire will devour him; It will consume the survivor in his tent. The heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him. The increase of his house will depart; His possessions will flow away in the day of His anger. This is the wicked man’s portion from God, Even the heritage decreed to him by God.”

Job 20:1-29 New Century Version (NCV)

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered: “My troubled thoughts cause me to answer, because I am very upset. You correct me and I am insulted, but I understand how to answer you. “You know how it has been for a long time, ever since people were first put on the earth. The happiness of evil people is brief, and the joy of the wicked lasts only a moment. Their pride may be as high as the heavens, and their heads may touch the clouds, but they will be gone forever, like their own dung. People who knew them will say, ‘Where are they?’ They will fly away like a dream and not be found again; they will be chased away like a vision in the night. Those who saw them will not see them again; the places where they lived will see them no more. Their children will have to pay back the poor, and they will have to give up their wealth. They had the strength of their youth in their bones, but it will lie with them in the dust of death. “Evil may taste sweet in their mouths, and they may hide it under their tongues. They cannot stand to let go of it; they keep it in their mouths. But their food will turn sour in their stomachs, like the poison of a snake inside them. They have swallowed riches, but they will spit them out; God will make them vomit their riches up. They will suck the poison of snakes, and the snake’s fangs will kill them. They will not admire the sparkling streams or the rivers flowing with honey and cream. They must give back what they worked for without eating it; they will not enjoy the money they made from their trading, because they troubled the poor and left them with nothing. They have taken houses they did not build. “Evil people never lack an appetite, and nothing escapes their selfishness. But nothing will be left for them to eat; their riches will not continue. When they still have plenty, trouble will catch up to them, and great misery will come down on them. When the wicked fill their stomachs, God will send his burning anger against them, and blows of punishment will fall on them like rain. The wicked may run away from an iron weapon, but a bronze arrow will stab them. They will pull the arrows out of their backs and pull the points out of their livers. Terrors will come over them; total darkness waits for their treasure. A fire not fanned by people will destroy them and burn up what is left of their tents. The heavens will show their guilt, and the earth will rise up against them. A flood will carry their houses away, swept away on the day of God’s anger. This is what God plans for evil people; this is what he has decided they will receive.”

Job 20:1-29 American Standard Version (ASV)

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, Even by reason of my haste that is in me. I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame; And the spirit of my understanding answereth me. Knowest thou not this of old time, Since man was placed upon earth, That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless but for a moment? Though his height mount up to the heavens, And his head reach unto the clouds; Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: They that have seen him shall say, Where is he? He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: Yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. The eye which saw him shall see him no more; Neither shall his place any more behold him. His children shall seek the favor of the poor, And his hands shall give back his wealth. His bones are full of his youth, But it shall lie down with him in the dust. Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, Though he hide it under his tongue, Though he spare it, and will not let it go, But keep it still within his mouth; Yet his food in his bowels is turned, It is the gall of asps within him. He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again; God will cast them out of his belly. He shall suck the poison of asps: The viper’s tongue shall slay him. He shall not look upon the rivers, The flowing streams of honey and butter. 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. For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; He hath violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up. Because he knew no quietness within him, He shall not save aught of that wherein he delighteth. There was nothing left that he devoured not; Therefore his prosperity shall not endure. In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: The hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon him. 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. He shall flee from the iron weapon, And the bow of brass shall strike him through. He draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body; Yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall: Terrors are upon him. 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. The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, And the earth shall rise up against him. The increase of his house shall depart; His goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath. This is the portion of a wicked man from God, And the heritage appointed unto him by God.

Job 20:1-29 New International Version (NIV)

Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: “My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer because I am greatly disturbed. I hear a rebuke that dishonors me, and my understanding inspires me to reply. “Surely you know how it has been from of old, ever since mankind was placed on the earth, that the mirth of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment. Though the pride of the godless person reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds, he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’ Like a dream he flies away, no more to be found, banished like a vision of the night. The eye that saw him will not see him again; his place will look on him no more. His children must make amends to the poor; his own hands must give back his wealth. The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie with him in the dust. “Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue, though he cannot bear to let it go and lets it linger in his mouth, yet his food will turn sour in his stomach; it will become the venom of serpents within him. He will spit out the riches he swallowed; God will make his stomach vomit them up. He will suck the poison of serpents; the fangs of an adder will kill him. He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream. What he toiled for he must give back uneaten; he will not enjoy the profit from his trading. For he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute; he has seized houses he did not build. “Surely he will have no respite from his craving; he cannot save himself by his treasure. Nothing is left for him to devour; his prosperity will not endure. In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him; the full force of misery will come upon him. When he has filled his belly, God will vent his burning anger against him and rain down his blows on him. Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him. He pulls it out of his back, the gleaming point out of his liver. Terrors will come over him; total darkness lies in wait for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent. The heavens will expose his guilt; the earth will rise up against him. A flood will carry off his house, rushing waters on the day of God’s wrath. Such is the fate God allots the wicked, the heritage appointed for them by God.”

Job 20:1-29 New King James Version (NKJV)

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: “Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer, Because of the turmoil within me. I have heard the rebuke that reproaches me, And the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer. “Do you not know this of old, Since man was placed on earth, That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment? Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens, And his head reaches to the clouds, Yet he will perish forever like his own refuse; Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’ He will fly away like a dream, and not be found; Yes, he will be chased away like a vision of the night. The eye that saw him will see him no more, Nor will his place behold him anymore. His children will seek the favor of the poor, And his hands will restore his wealth. His bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it will lie down with him in the dust. “Though evil is sweet in his mouth, And he hides it under his tongue, Though he spares it and does not forsake it, But still keeps it in his mouth, Yet his food in his stomach turns sour; It becomes cobra venom within him. He swallows down riches And vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly. He will suck the poison of cobras; The viper’s tongue will slay him. He will not see the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and cream. He will restore that for which he labored, And will not swallow it down; From the proceeds of business He will get no enjoyment. For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor, He has violently seized a house which he did not build. “Because he knows no quietness in his heart, He will not save anything he desires. Nothing is left for him to eat; Therefore his well-being will not last. In his self-sufficiency he will be in distress; Every hand of misery will come against him. When he is about to fill his stomach, God will cast on him the fury of His wrath, And will rain it on him while he is eating. He will flee from the iron weapon; A bronze bow will pierce him through. It is drawn, and comes out of the body; Yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors come upon him; Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. An unfanned fire will consume him; It shall go ill with him who is left in his tent. The heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him. The increase of his house will depart, And his goods will flow away in the day of His wrath. This is the portion from God for a wicked man, The heritage appointed to him by God.”

Job 20:1-29 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said, “Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me answer, Because of the uneasiness that is within me. “I have heard the reproof which insults me, But the spirit of my understanding makes me answer. “Do you not know this from the old days, Since the time that man was placed on the earth, That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless is only for a moment? [Ps 37:35, 36] “Though his pride reaches the heavens And his head touches the clouds, Yet he perishes forever like his own refuse; Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’ “He flies away like a dream and cannot be found; Yes, he is chased away like a vision of the night. “The eye which saw him sees him no longer, Neither does his [accustomed] place behold him any longer. “His sons favor the poor [and pay his obligations], And his hands give back his [ill-gotten] wealth. “His bones are full of youthful strength But it lies down with him in the dust. ¶“Though evil and wickedness are sweet in his mouth And he hides it under his tongue, Though he desires it and will not let it go But holds it in his mouth, Yet his food turns [to poison] in his stomach; It is the venom of vipers within him. “He swallows [his ill-gotten] riches, But will vomit them up; God will drive them out of his belly. “He sucks the poison of vipers [which ill-gotten wealth contains]; The viper’s tongue slays him. “He does not look at the rivers, The flowing streams of honey and butter [to enjoy his wealth]. “He gives back what he has labored for and attained And cannot swallow it [down to enjoy it]; As to the riches of his labor, He cannot even enjoy them. “For he has oppressed and neglected the poor; He has violently taken away houses which he did not build. ¶“Because he knew no quietness or calm within him [because of his greed], He does not retain anything he desires. “There is nothing left of what he devoured; Therefore his prosperity does not endure. “In the fullness of his excess (great abundance) he will be in trouble; The hand of everyone who suffers will come against him [he is miserable on every side]. “When he fills his belly, God will send His fierce anger on him And will rain it upon him while he is eating. [Num 11:33; Ps 78:26-31] “He may flee from the iron weapon, But the bow of bronze will pierce him through. “The arrow is drawn forth and it comes out of his back [after passing through his body]; Yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors march in upon him; Complete darkness (misfortune) is held in reserve for his treasures. An unfanned fire will devour him; It will consume the survivor in his tent. “The heavens will reveal his wickedness and guilt, And the earth will rise up against him. “The produce and increase of his house will depart [with the victors]; His possessions will be dragged away in the day of God’s wrath. “This is the wicked man’s portion from God, And the heritage decreed and appointed to him by God.”

Job 20:1-29 New Living Translation (NLT)

Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: “I must reply because I am greatly disturbed. I’ve had to endure your insults, but now my spirit prompts me to reply. “Don’t you realize that from the beginning of time, ever since people were first placed on the earth, the triumph of the wicked has been short lived and the joy of the godless has been only temporary? Though the pride of the godless reaches to the heavens and their heads touch the clouds, yet they will vanish forever, thrown away like their own dung. Those who knew them will ask, ‘Where are they?’ They will fade like a dream and not be found. They will vanish like a vision in the night. Those who once saw them will see them no more. Their families will never see them again. Their children will beg from the poor, for they must give back their stolen riches. Though they are young, their bones will lie in the dust. “They enjoyed the sweet taste of wickedness, letting it melt under their tongue. They savored it, holding it long in their mouths. But suddenly the food in their bellies turns sour, a poisonous venom in their stomach. They will vomit the wealth they swallowed. God won’t let them keep it down. They will suck the poison of cobras. The viper will kill them. They will never again enjoy streams of olive oil or rivers of milk and honey. They will give back everything they worked for. Their wealth will bring them no joy. For they oppressed the poor and left them destitute. They foreclosed on their homes. They were always greedy and never satisfied. Nothing remains of all the things they dreamed about. Nothing is left after they finish gorging themselves. Therefore, their prosperity will not endure. “In the midst of plenty, they will run into trouble and be overcome by misery. May God give them a bellyful of trouble. May God rain down his anger upon them. When they try to escape an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce them. The arrow is pulled from their back, and the arrowhead glistens with blood. The terrors of death are upon them. Their treasures will be thrown into deepest darkness. A wildfire will devour their goods, consuming all they have left. The heavens will reveal their guilt, and the earth will testify against them. A flood will sweep away their house. God’s anger will descend on them in torrents. This is the reward that God gives the wicked. It is the inheritance decreed by God.”

Job 20:1-29 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: “Therefore my thoughts answer me, because of my haste within me. I hear censure that insults me, and out of my understanding a spirit answers me. Do you not know this from of old, since man was placed on earth, that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment? Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds, he will perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’ He will fly away like a dream and not be found; he will be chased away like a vision of the night. The eye that saw him will see him no more, nor will his place any more behold him. His children will seek the favor of the poor, and his hands will give back his wealth. His bones are full of his youthful vigor, but it will lie down with him in the dust. “Though evil is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue, though he is loath to let it go and holds it in his mouth, yet his food is turned in his stomach; it is the venom of cobras within him. He swallows down riches and vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly. He will suck the poison of cobras; the tongue of a viper will kill him. He will not look upon the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds. He will give back the fruit of his toil and will not swallow it down; from the profit of his trading he will get no enjoyment. For he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he did not build. “Because he knew no contentment in his belly, he will not let anything in which he delights escape him. There was nothing left after he had eaten; therefore his prosperity will not endure. In the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in distress; the hand of everyone in misery will come against him. To fill his belly to the full, God will send his burning anger against him and rain it upon him into his body. He will flee from an iron weapon; a bronze arrow will strike him through. It is drawn forth and comes out of his body; the glittering point comes out of his gallbladder; terrors come upon him. Utter darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not fanned will devour him; what is left in his tent will be consumed. The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him. The possessions of his house will be carried away, dragged off in the day of God’s wrath. This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the heritage decreed for him by God.”