Job 20:1-13 ▼

1 And Zophar the Naamathite answereth and saith: --

2 Therefore my thoughts cause me to answer, And because of my sensations in me.

3 The chastisement of my shame I hear, And the spirit of mine understanding Doth cause me to answer:

4 This hast thou known from antiquity? Since the placing of man on earth?

5 That the singing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the profane for a moment,

6 Though his excellency go up to the heavens, And his head against a cloud he strike --

7 As his own dung for ever he doth perish, His beholders say: 'Where is he?'

8 As a dream he fleeth, and they find him not, And he is driven away as a vision of the night,

9 The eye hath not seen him, and addeth not. And not again doth his place behold him.

10 His sons do the poor oppress, And his hands give back his wealth.

11 His bones have been full of his youth, And with him on the dust it lieth down.

12 Though he doth sweeten evil in his mouth, Doth hide it under his tongue,

13 Hath pity on it, and doth not forsake it, And keep it back in the midst of his palate,