Job 20:13
 Job 20:13 
New International Version (©2011)
though he cannot bear to let it go and lets it linger in his mouth,

New Living Translation (©2007)
They savored it, holding it long in their mouths.

English Standard Version (©2001)
though he is loath to let it go and holds it in his mouth,

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Though he desires it and will not let it go, But holds it in his mouth,

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
though he cherishes it and will not let it go but keeps it in his mouth,

International Standard Version (©2012)
though he savors it and delays swallowing it so he can taste it again and again in his mouth,

NET Bible (©2006)
if he retains it for himself and does not let it go, and holds it fast in his mouth,

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Though he savors it and won't let go of it and he holds it on the roof of his mouth,

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:

American King James Version
Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:

American Standard Version
Though he spare it, and will not let it go, But keep it still within his mouth;

Douay-Rheims Bible
He will spare it, and not leave it, and will hide it in his throat.

Darby Bible Translation
Though he spare it, and forsake it not, but keep it within his mouth,

English Revised Version
Though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;

Webster's Bible Translation
Though he may spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:

World English Bible
though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;

Young's Literal Translation
Hath pity on it, and doth not forsake it, And keep it back in the midst of his palate,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

20:10-22 The miserable condition of the wicked man in this world is fully set forth. The lusts of the flesh are here called the sins of his youth. His hiding it and keeping it under his tongue, denotes concealment of his beloved lust, and delight therein. But He who knows what is in the heart, knows what is under the tongue, and will discover it. The love of the world, and of the wealth of it, also is wickedness, and man sets his heart upon these. Also violence and injustice, these sins bring God's judgments upon nations and families. Observe the punishment of the wicked man for these things. Sin is turned into gall, than which nothing is more bitter; it will prove to him poison; so will all unlawful gains be. In his fulness he shall be in straits, through the anxieties of his own mind. To be led by the sanctifying grace of God to restore what was unjustly gotten, as Zaccheus was, is a great mercy. But to be forced to restore by the horrors of a despairing conscience, as Judas was, has no benefit and comfort attending it.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Though he spare it,.... Not that he feeds sparingly on it, for he eats of it freely and plentifully, with great eagerness and greediness; it designs the gratefulness of it to him; he does not spit it out as loathsome, having tasted of it, but retains it as sweet and pleasant; he spares it as Saul did Agag, and as a man spares his only son; sin being a child, a brat of a wicked man, and therefore it is dear unto him:

and forsake it not: as he never will, until he is fully convinced of the evil of it, and it becomes exceeding sinful to him, and so loathsome and disagreeable; and he is restrained from it by the grace of God, and enabled by it to desert it, for such an one only finds mercy, Proverbs 28:13;

but keep it still within his mouth; like an epicure, that will not suffer his food quickly to go down his throat into his stomach, that he may have the greater pleasure in tasting, palating, and relishing it; as Philoxenus, who wished his throat as long as a crane's, that he might be the longer in tasting the sweetness of what he ate and drank; so the wicked man keeps sin within his mouth, not by restraining his mouth from speaking evil, rather by a non-confession of it, but chiefly by continuing and persisting in it, that he might have all the pleasure and satisfaction he has promised himself in it.


Job 20:13 Parallel Commentaries

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Zophar: Triumph of the Wicked Short-lived
12Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue; 13Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth: 14Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him. …

Numbers 11:18 "Tell the people: 'Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The LORD heard you when you wailed, "If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!" Now the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat it.
Numbers 11:33 But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague.
Job 20:14 yet his food will turn sour in his stomach; it will become the venom of serpents within him.
Job 20:23 When he has filled his belly, God will vent his burning anger against him and rain down his blows on him.
Proverbs 19:28 A corrupt witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.