Job 20:13 | KingComments | STEP | Zophar presents the wicked as one who has sin in his mouth as something sweet ( ). He hides it under his tongue, for otherwise “the sweet” melts too quickly, and it is out with the fun. He wants to enjoy it as long as possible. He cherishes evil and holds it in his mouth ( ). To let it go, to let loose and to cease is not an option for him. He will keep it in his mouth for as long as possible. If he holds it against his palate, he will enjoy it as long as possible. The taste of it is so good … But this pleasure comes to an end. When he has swallowed the delicacy and it has entered his belly and intestines, the delicacy turns into “the venom of cobras” ( ). Sin is not candy, but snake poison. What he has greedily gained in power by robbing it from others, he will vomit out again ( ). God will personally take care of that. What the wicked has sucked in in sinful pleasure is nothing but snake poison ( ). In short, the death of the wicked is caused by his own sin.

‏ Job 20:13

The Wicked Poisons Himself

Zophar presents the wicked as one who has sin in his mouth as something sweet (Job 20:12). He hides it under his tongue, for otherwise “the sweet” melts too quickly, and it is out with the fun. He wants to enjoy it as long as possible. He cherishes evil and holds it in his mouth (Job 20:13). To let it go, to let loose and to cease is not an option for him. He will keep it in his mouth for as long as possible. If he holds it against his palate, he will enjoy it as long as possible. The taste of it is so good …

But this pleasure comes to an end. When he has swallowed the delicacy and it has entered his belly and intestines, the delicacy turns into “the venom of cobras” (Job 20:14). Sin is not candy, but snake poison. What he has greedily gained in power by robbing it from others, he will vomit out again (Job 20:15). God will personally take care of that. What the wicked has sucked in in sinful pleasure is nothing but snake poison (Job 20:16). In short, the death of the wicked is caused by his own sin.