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Job 20

Zophar Says the Joy of the Wicked Is Short

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,
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“Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me respond,
Even because of my haste within me.
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I listened to the discipline which dishonors me,
And the spirit of my understanding makes me answer.
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Do you know this from of old,
From the establishment of man on earth,
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That the shouts of joy of the wicked are short,
And the gladness of the godless momentary?
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Though his loftiness goes up to the heavens,
And his head touches the clouds,
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He perishes forever like his refuse;
Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
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He flies away like a dream, and they cannot find him;
Even like a vision of the night he is chased away.
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The eye which saw him sees him no longer,
And his place no longer beholds him.
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His sons seek the favor of the poor,
And his hands give back his wealth.
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His bones are full of his youthful vigor,
But it lies down with him in the dust.

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“Though evil is sweet in his mouth
And he hides it under his tongue,
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Though he desires it and will not forsake it,
And holds it to his palate,
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Yet his food in his stomach is changed
To the venom of cobras within him.
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He swallows up wealth,
But will vomit it up;
God will expel it from his belly.
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He sucks the poison of cobras;
The viper’s tongue kills him.
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He does not look at the streams,
The rivers flowing with honey and curds.
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He returns what he has attained
And cannot swallow it;
As to the wealth of his trading,
He cannot even enjoy it.
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For he has crushed and forsaken the poor;
He has seized a house which he has not built.

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“Because he knew no ease within his belly,
In his covetousness, he does not let anything escape.
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Nothing remains for him to devour;
Therefore his prosperity does not endure.
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In the fullness of his plenty he will be confined;
The hand of everyone who is troubled will come against him.
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So it will be that he fills his belly,
And God will send His burning anger on him
And will rain it on him while he is eating.
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He may flee from the iron weapon,
But the bronze bow will pierce him.
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It is drawn forth and comes out of his back,
Even the glittering point from his gall;
Bouts of dread come upon him.
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Complete darkness is held in reserve for his treasures;
A fire unfanned will devour him;
It will consume the survivor in his tent.
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The heavens will reveal his iniquity,
And the earth will rise up against him.
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The increase of his house will depart;
His possessions will flow away in the day of His anger.
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This is the wicked man’s portion from God,
Even the inheritance decreed to him by God.”