Job 20

CHAPTER 20 Sophar Addresses the Lawbreakers

1 And undertaking, Sophar the Minean says, 2 Not so far have I undertook to contradict you in these things, and neither do you perceive more than I. 3 [²instruction ³for making me ashamed ¹I will hearken to]; and the spirit of understanding answers me. 4 Have [²these things ¹you known] from the yet of which time [²was put ¹man] upon the earth? 5 For the gladness of the impious [²downfall ¹is an extraordinary]; and a cause for joy of the lawbreakers is destruction. 6 If [³should ascend ⁴into ⁵heaven ¹his ²gifts], and his sacrifice [²the clouds ¹should touch]; 7 for whenever he should seem already firmly fixed, then [²unto ³the end ¹he shall perish]; and the ones knowing him shall say, Where is he? 8 As if a dream spreading forth, in no way shall he be found; so he flys as if [²manifestation ¹a nightly]. 9 The eye overlooked, and does not proceed, and [²no longer ³pays attention to ⁴him ¹his place]. 10 [⁴his sons ¹May ³destroy ²his inferiors], and may his hands light the fire of griefs. 11 His bones were filled with the vigor of his youth, and [²with ³him ⁴upon ⁵the embankment ¹it shall go to bed]. 12 Though [²should be sweet ³in ⁴his mouth ¹evil], he shall hide it under his tongue, 13 and he shall not spare it, and will not abandon it, but brings it in the midst of his throat. 14 Yet in no way shall he be able to help himself; the bile of an asp is in his belly. 15 His riches unjustly brought together shall be vomited forth. From out of his house [²shall drag him away ¹an angel]. 16 [³the rage ¹And ⁴of dragons ²may he nurse]; [²may ⁵do away with ¹and ⁶him ³the tongue ⁴of a serpent]. 17 May he not behold the milking of grazing animals, nor the pastures of honey and butter. 18 For [³in emptiness ⁴and ⁵vanity ¹he tired ²for riches], of which he shall not taste; it is as if tough, unchewable, and impotable. 19 [⁴of many ¹For ⁵of the disabled ³the houses ²he crushed]; and a habitation he seized by force, and he established it not. 20 [³is not ¹His ²safety] in the possessions; by his desire he will not escape. 21 There is no leftover of his foods; on account of this [³shall not ⁴bloom ¹his ²good things]. 22 And whenever it should seem urgent to accomplish something, he shall be afflicted; and all distress [²upon ³him ¹shall come]. 23 If by any means he might fill his belly, let God send as a successor upon him the rage of anger; may [²wash ³over ⁴him ¹griefs]. 24 And in no way shall he be delivered from the hand of iron; may [³pierce ⁴him ¹the bow ²of brass]; 25 [²may ⁴go completely ¹and ⁵through ⁶his body ³the arrow]; [³the stars ¹and ⁵on ⁶his habitation ²may ⁴walk]; [²upon ³him ¹may fears be]. 26 [³all ¹And ⁴darkness ⁶for him ²may ⁵wait]; [³shall devour ⁴him ²fire ¹inextinguishable]; [²may ⁴inflict evil on ¹and ⁵his ³a stranger] house. 27 [²may ⁵uncover ¹And ⁶his ³the ⁴heaven] lawless deeds; and the earth rise up against him. 28 May [²draw ³his house ¹destruction] unto the end; [²the day ³of anger ¹may] come upon him. 29 This is the portion [²man ¹of an impious] from the lord, and the possession of his substance given to him by the overseer.