Job 20 Parallel Bible Translations

Job 20 ▼
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1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said, Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
2 “Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me answer, Because of the uneasiness that is within me. “Therefore my thoughts answer me, because of my haste within me. “My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer because I am greatly disturbed.
3 “I have heard the reproof which insults me, But the spirit of my understanding makes me answer. I hear censure that insults me, and out of my understanding a spirit answers me. I hear a rebuke that dishonors me, and my understanding inspires me to reply.
4 “Do you not know this from the old days, Since the time that man was placed on the earth, Do you not know this from of old, since man was placed on earth, “Surely you know how it has been from of old, ever since mankind was placed on the earth,
5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless is only for a moment? that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment? that the mirth of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment.
6 “Though his pride reaches the heavens And his head touches the clouds, Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds, Though the pride of the godless person reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds,
7 Yet he perishes forever like his own refuse; Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’ he will perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’ he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
8 “He flies away like a dream and cannot be found; Yes, he is chased away like a vision of the night. He will fly away like a dream and not be found; he will be chased away like a vision of the night. Like a dream he flies away, no more to be found, banished like a vision of the night.
9 “The eye which saw him sees him no longer, Neither does his [accustomed] place behold him any longer. The eye that saw him will see him no more, nor will his place any more behold him. The eye that saw him will not see him again; his place will look on him no more.
10 “His sons favor the poor [and pay his obligations], And his hands give back his [ill-gotten] wealth. His children will seek the favor of the poor, and his hands will give back his wealth. His children must make amends to the poor; his own hands must give back his wealth.
11 “His bones are full of youthful strength But it lies down with him in the dust. His bones are full of his youthful vigor, but it will lie down with him in the dust. The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie with him in the dust.
12 “Though evil and wickedness are sweet in his mouth And he hides it under his tongue, “Though evil is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue, “Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue,
13 Though he desires it and will not let it go But holds it in his mouth, though he is loath to let it go and holds it in his mouth, though he cannot bear to let it go and lets it linger in his mouth,
14 Yet his food turns [to poison] in his stomach; It is the venom of vipers within him. yet his food is turned in his stomach; it is the venom of cobras within him. yet his food will turn sour in his stomach; it will become the venom of serpents within him.
15 “He swallows [his ill-gotten] riches, But will vomit them up; God will drive them out of his belly. He swallows down riches and vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly. He will spit out the riches he swallowed; God will make his stomach vomit them up.
16 “He sucks the poison of vipers [which ill-gotten wealth contains]; The viper’s tongue slays him. He will suck the poison of cobras; the tongue of a viper will kill him. He will suck the poison of serpents; the fangs of an adder will kill him.
17 “He does not look at the rivers, The flowing streams of honey and butter [to enjoy his wealth]. He will not look upon the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds. He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.
18 “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. 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. What he toiled for he must give back uneaten; he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.
19 “For he has oppressed and neglected the poor; He has violently taken away houses which he did not build. For he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he did not build. For he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute; he has seized houses he did not build.
20 “Because he knew no quietness or calm within him [because of his greed], He does not retain anything he desires. “Because he knew no contentment in his belly, he will not let anything in which he delights escape him. “Surely he will have no respite from his craving; he cannot save himself by his treasure.
21 “There is nothing left of what he devoured; Therefore his prosperity does not endure. There was nothing left after he had eaten; therefore his prosperity will not endure. Nothing is left for him to devour; his prosperity will not endure.
22 “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]. In the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in distress; the hand of everyone in misery will come against him. In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him; the full force of misery will come upon him.
23 “When he fills his belly, God will send His fierce anger on him And will rain it upon him while he is eating. To fill his belly to the full, God will send his burning anger against him and rain it upon him into his body. When he has filled his belly, God will vent his burning anger against him and rain down his blows on him.
24 “He may flee from the iron weapon, But the bow of bronze will pierce him through. He will flee from an iron weapon; a bronze arrow will strike him through. Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.
25 “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; It is drawn forth and comes out of his body; the glittering point comes out of his gallbladder; terrors come upon him. He pulls it out of his back, the gleaming point out of his liver. Terrors will come over him;
26 Complete darkness (misfortune) is held in reserve for his treasures. An unfanned fire will devour him; It will consume the survivor in his tent. Utter darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not fanned will devour him; what is left in his tent will be consumed. total darkness lies in wait for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.
27 “The heavens will reveal his wickedness and guilt, And the earth will rise up against him. The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him. The heavens will expose his guilt; the earth will rise up against him.
28 “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. The possessions of his house will be carried away, dragged off in the day of God’s wrath. A flood will carry off his house, rushing waters on the day of God’s wrath.
29 “This is the wicked man’s portion from God, And the heritage decreed and appointed to him by God.” This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the heritage decreed for him by God.” Such is the fate God allots the wicked, the heritage appointed for them by God.”
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