Job 20 Zephar describes the calamities that the wicked suffer

 Job 20

Zephar describes the calamities that the wicked suffer

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

2 Since my thoughts prompt me to answer, I will make haste.

3 I have heard the rebuke that shames me, but the spirit of my understanding will answer for me.

4 Do you not know that from of old, since man was placed on the earth,

5 The joy of the wicked is brief, and the exultation of the hypocrite is but for a moment?

6 Though his height mounts up to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds,

7 He will perish forever like his own dung; and those who have seen him will say, “Where is he?”

8 He flies away like a dream, and cannot be found; he is chased away like a vision of the night.

9 The eye that saw him will see him no more, nor will he look for his place any more.

10 His sons will please the poor, and his hands will restore his wealth.

11 His bones will be full of the vigor of his youth, but they will lie down with him in the dust.

12 Though evil is sweet in his mouth, and he hides it under his tongue,

13 And he keeps it, and does not let it go, but keeps it in his mouth,

14 Yet his food will be turned to poison in his belly; it will be the gall of asps within him.

15 He has swallowed wealth, and will vomit it out; God will cast it out of his belly.

16 He will suck out the poison of asps; the tongue of a viper will kill him.

17 He will not see the streams, the rivers, the brooks of honey and butter.

18 He will restore his labor, and will not swallow it; according to the power of his change he will not rejoice.

 19 Because he oppressed and forsook the poor, and robbed the house he did not build; 

20 Because he had no rest in his belly, he will retain nothing of his much-desired wealth. 

21 He will have nothing left to eat; therefore his wealth will not last. 

22 When his sufficiency is full, he will be in distress; every hand of the poor will come upon him. 

23 But let there be enough to fill his belly, and God will send forth the fierceness of his wrath upon him, and will rain it upon him when he eats. 

24 Though he flees from the weapons of iron, the bow of steel will pierce him through. 

25 The dart will pull out of his body, and a flash of light will come from his gall; and terrors will be upon him. 

26 All darkness will hide in its secret places; a fire unblown will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.

27 The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.

28 The income of his house will be carried away; in the day of his wrath it will all be poured out.

29 This is the portion of the wicked man from God; this is the inheritance that God has reserved for him.