Job 20

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¹Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,

²I did not suppose that you would answer thus: neither do you° understand more than I.

³I will hear my shameful reproach; and the spirit of my understanding answers me.

⁴Hast you not known these things of old, from the time that man was set upon the earth?

⁵But the mirth of the ungodly is a signal downfall, and the joy of transgressors is destruction:

⁶although his gifts should go up to heaven, and his sacrifice reach the clouds.

⁷For when he shall seem to be now established, then he shall utterly perish: and they that knew him shall say, Where is he?

⁸Like a dream that has fled away, he shall not be found; and he has fled like a vision of the night.

⁹The eye has looked upon him, but shall not see him again; and his place shall no longer perceive him.

¹⁰Let his inferiors destroy his children, and let his hands kindle the fire of sorrow.

¹¹His bones have been filled with vigour of his youth, and it shall lie down with him in the dust.

¹²Though evil be sweet in his mouth, though he will hide it under his tongue;

¹³though he will not spare it, and will not leave it, but will keep it in the midst of his throat:

¹⁴yet he shall not at all be able to help himself; the gall of an asp is in his belly.

¹⁵His wealth unjustly collected shall be vomited up; a messenger of wrath shall drag him out of his house.

¹⁶And let him suck the poison of serpents, and let the serpent's tongue kill him.

¹⁷Let him not see the milk of the pastures, nor the supplies of honey and butter.

¹⁸He has laboured unprofitably and in vain, for wealth of which he shall not taste: it is as a lean thing, unfit for food, which he can’t swallow.

¹⁹For he has broken down the houses of many mighty men: and he has plundered an habitation, though he built it not.

²⁰There is no security to his possessions; he shall not be saved by his desire.

²¹There is nothing remaining of his provisions; therefore his goods shall not flourish.

²²But when he shall seem to be just satisfied, he shall be straitened; and all distress shall come upon him.

²³If by any means he would fill his belly, let God send upon him the fury of wrath; let him bring a torrent of pains upon him.

²⁴And he shall by no means escape from the power of the sword; let the brazen bow wound him.

²⁵And let the arrow pierce through his body; and let the stars be against his dwelling-place: let terrors come upon him.

²⁶And let all darkness wait for him: a fire that burns not out shall consume him; and let a stranger plague his house.

²⁷And let the heaven reveal his iniquities, and the earth rise up against him.

²⁸Let destruction bring his house to an end; let a day of wrath come upon him.

²⁹This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of his goods appointed him by the all-seeing God.