20:1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
20:1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

20:2 Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for [this] I make haste.
20:2 "Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer, Because of the turmoil within me.

20:3 I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.
20:3 I have heard the rebuke that reproaches me, And the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer.

20:4 Knowest thou [not] this of old, since man was placed upon earth,
20:4 "Do you not know this of old, Since man was placed on earth,

20:5 That the triumphing of the wicked [is] short, and the joy of the hypocrite [but] for a moment?
20:5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment?

20:6 Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;
20:6 Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens, And his head reaches to the clouds,

20:7 [Yet] he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where [is] he?
20:7 Yet he will perish forever like his own refuse; Those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'

20:8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.
20:8 He will fly away like a dream, and not be found; Yes, he will be chased away like a vision of the night.

20:9 The eye also [which] saw him shall [see him] no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.
20:9 The eye that saw him will see him no more, Nor will his place behold him anymore.

20:10 His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.
20:10 His children will seek the favor of the poor, And his hands will restore his wealth.

20:11 His bones are full [of the sin] of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.
20:11 His bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it will lie down with him in the dust.

20:12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, [though] he hide it under his tongue;
20:12 "Though evil is sweet in his mouth, And he hides it under his tongue,

20:13 [Though] he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:
20:13 Though he spares it and does not forsake it, But still keeps it in his mouth,

20:14 [Yet] his meat in his bowels is turned, [it is] the gall of asps within him.
20:14 Yet his food in his stomach turns sour; It becomes cobra venom within him.

20:15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.
20:15 He swallows down riches And vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly.

20:16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.
20:16 He will suck the poison of cobras; The viper's tongue will slay him.

20:17 He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.
20:17 He will not see the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and cream.

20:18 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].
20:18 He will restore that for which he labored, And will not swallow it down; From the proceeds of business He will get no enjoyment.

20:19 Because he hath oppressed [and] hath forsaken the poor; [because] he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;
20:19 For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor, He has violently seized a house which he did not build.

20:20 Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.
20:20 "Because he knows no quietness in his heart, He will not save anything he desires.

20:21 There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.
20:21 Nothing is left for him to eat; Therefore his well-being will not last.

20:22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.
20:22 In his self-sufficiency he will be in distress; Every hand of misery will come against him.

20:23 [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.
20:23 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.

20:24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, [and] the bow of steel shall strike him through.
20:24 He will flee from the iron weapon; A bronze bow will pierce him through.

20:25 It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors [are] upon him.
20:25 It is drawn, and comes out of the body; Yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors come upon him;

20:26 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.
20:26 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.

20:27 The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.
20:27 The heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him.

20:28 The increase of his house shall depart, [and his goods] shall flow away in the day of his wrath.
20:28 The increase of his house will depart, And his goods will flow away in the day of His wrath.

20:29 This [is] the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.
20:29 This is the portion from God for a wicked man, The heritage appointed to him by God."