Job 20
1THEN answered Sophar the Minaian and said:
2I did not suppose that thou wouldst return such an answer, nor do you understand more than I.
3I hear this disgraceful rebuke and my spirit of understanding answers me.
4Thou hast never known such things heretofore, from the time man was placed on the earth!
5’But the mirth of the wicked is sudden ruin, and the joy of transgressors, destruction,
6though his gifts mount up to heaven, and his sacrifice reach the clouds.
7For when he thinketh that he is now firmly established, then shall he be utterly destroyed; and they who have seen him will say, Where is he?
8Like a dream which is gone, he cannot be found. He is vanished, like a spectre in the night.
9The eye which saw him, shall see him no more; and his place shall no more observe.
10Let minors destroy his children, and his own hands light up the signals of distress.
11His bones were full of his youth, but with him it shall go to rest beneath the mound.
12If wickedness be sweet in his mouth, he will hide it under his tongue.
13He will not be sparing of it, nor forsake it, but will gather it together in his mouth; therefore let him not be able to help himself.
14The poison of an asp is in his belly.
15Riches collected unrighteously shall be vomited up. Out of his house let an angel drag him.
16May he suck the venom of dragons! and may the tongue of the viper slay him!
17may he never see the milking of his kine, nor the distribution of his honey and butter!
18He hath wearied himself for emptiness and vanity—for riches, of which he shall not have a taste, which are like a bur, neither to be chewed nor drunk.
19Because he broke up the families of princes; and plundered dwellings and suffered them not to stand.
20There is no security for his possessions; nor shall he be saved by what he valueth highly.
21Not a scrap of his provisions is left. His good things shall not, on this account, be renewed.
22In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be afflicted, and all manner of distress shall come upon him.
23If by any means he be permitted to fill his belly; may He send against him fiery indignation, and pour upon him sorrows!
24Let him not escape from the edge of the sword!
25May the brazen bow wound him, and the dart pass through his body, and stars light on his dwellings!
26May terrors stalk around him and total darkness await him! An unkindled fire devoureth him. May his guest also afflict his family!
27may the heaven disclose his iniquities, and the earth rise up against him!
28May destruction bring his house to an end! Upon him may there come a day of wrath!’
29This is the portion of a wicked man from the Lord, and this his possession from the superintending Being.