Book of Job, Chapter 20
Job 20 ASV - American Standard VersionChapter 20 of Job—American Standard Version (ASV)
- ¶ Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
- ¶ Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me,
¶ [a]Even by reason of my haste that is in me. - ¶ I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame;
¶ [b]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. - ¶ [c]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 [d]that he hath gotten, he shall not rejoice. - ¶ For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor;
¶ He hath violently taken away a house, [e]and he shall not build it up. - ¶ Because he knew no quietness [f]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. - ¶ [g]When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him,
¶ And will rain it upon him [h]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;
¶ [i]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.
FOOTNOTES
- ^ Or, And by reason of this my haste is within me
- ^ Or, But out of my understanding my spirit answereth me
- ^ Or, as otherwise read, The poor shall oppress his children
- ^ Hebrew of his exchange.
- ^ Or, which he builded not
- ^ Or, in his greed. Hebrew in his belly.
- ^ Or, Let it be for the filling of his belly that God shall cast etc.
- ^ Or, as his food
- ^ Or, It shall go ill with him that is left
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