Job 20 - New International Version (NIV)

Zophar

20 Then Zophar the Naamathite(A) replied:

2 “My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer
because I am greatly disturbed.(B)
3 I hear a rebuke(C) that dishonors me,
and my understanding inspires me to reply.

4 “Surely you know how it has been from of old,(D)
ever since mankind[a] was placed on the earth,
5 that the mirth of the wicked(E) is brief,
the joy of the godless(F) lasts but a moment.(G)
6 Though the pride(H) of the godless person reaches to the heavens(I)
and his head touches the clouds,(J)
7 he will perish forever,(K) like his own dung;
those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’(L)
8 Like a dream(M) he flies away,(N) no more to be found,
banished(O) like a vision of the night.(P)
9 The eye that saw him will not see him again;
his place will look on him no more.(Q)
10 His children(R) must make amends to the poor;
his own hands must give back his wealth.(S)
11 The youthful vigor(T) that fills his bones(U)
will lie with him in the dust.(V)

12 “Though evil(W) is sweet in his mouth
and he hides it under his tongue,(X)
13 though he cannot bear to let it go
and lets it linger in his mouth,(Y)
14 yet his food will turn sour in his stomach;(Z)
it will become the venom of serpents(AA) within him.
15 He will spit out the riches(AB) he swallowed;
God will make his stomach vomit(AC) them up.
16 He will suck the poison(AD) of serpents;
the fangs of an adder will kill him.(AE)
17 He will not enjoy the streams,
the rivers(AF) flowing with honey(AG) and cream.(AH)
18 What he toiled for he must give back uneaten;(AI)
he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.(AJ)
19 For he has oppressed the poor(AK) and left them destitute;(AL)
he has seized houses(AM) he did not build.

20 “Surely he will have no respite from his craving;(AN)
he cannot save himself by his treasure.(AO)
21 Nothing is left for him to devour;
his prosperity will not endure.(AP)
22 In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him;(AQ)
the full force of misery will come upon him.(AR)
23 When he has filled his belly,(AS)
God will vent his burning anger(AT) against him
and rain down his blows on him.(AU)
24 Though he flees(AV) from an iron weapon,
a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.(AW)
25 He pulls it out of his back,
the gleaming point out of his liver.
Terrors(AX) will come over him;(AY)
26 total darkness(AZ) lies in wait for his treasures.
A fire(BA) unfanned will consume him(BB)
and devour what is left in his tent.(BC)
27 The heavens will expose his guilt;
the earth will rise up against him.(BD)
28 A flood will carry off his house,(BE)
rushing waters[b] on the day of God’s wrath.(BF)
29 Such is the fate God allots the wicked,
the heritage appointed for them by God.”(BG)

Footnotes

  1. Job 20:4 Or Adam
  2. Job 20:28 Or The possessions in his house will be carried off, / washed away

Cross references

  1. Job 20:1 : S Job 2:11
  2. Job 20:2 : Ps 42:5; La 1:20
  3. Job 20:3 : Job 19:3
  4. Job 20:4 : Dt 4:32; S 32:7
  5. Job 20:5 : Ps 94:3
  6. Job 20:5 : S Job 8:13
  7. Job 20:5 : S Job 8:12; Ps 37:35-36; 73:19
  8. Job 20:6 : Job 33:17; Isa 16:6
  9. Job 20:6 : S Ge 11:4
  10. Job 20:6 : Isa 14:13-14; Ob 1:3-4
  11. Job 20:7 : S Job 4:20
  12. Job 20:7 : S Job 7:8; S 14:20
  13. Job 20:8 : Ps 73:20; Ecc 5:3
  14. Job 20:8 : Ps 90:10; Ecc 6:12; 12:7
  15. Job 20:8 : S Job 18:11
  16. Job 20:8 : Job 27:20; 34:20; Ps 90:5; Isa 17:14; 29:7
  17. Job 20:9 : S Job 7:8
  18. Job 20:10 : S Job 5:4
  19. Job 20:10 : ver 15, 18, 20; S Job 3:15; 31:8
  20. Job 20:11 : S Job 13:26
  21. Job 20:11 : Job 21:24
  22. Job 20:11 : S Job 17:16
  23. Job 20:12 : S Job 15:16
  24. Job 20:12 : Ps 10:7; 140:3
  25. Job 20:13 : S Nu 11:18-20
  26. Job 20:14 : Pr 20:17; Jer 2:19; 4:18; Rev 10:9
  27. Job 20:14 : S Nu 21:6
  28. Job 20:15 : S ver 10
  29. Job 20:15 : S Lev 18:25
  30. Job 20:16 : S Dt 32:32
  31. Job 20:16 : Dt 32:24
  32. Job 20:17 : Ps 36:8
  33. Job 20:17 : Dt 32:13
  34. Job 20:17 : Dt 32:14; Job 29:6
  35. Job 20:18 : S ver 10; S Job 5:5
  36. Job 20:18 : Ps 109:11
  37. Job 20:19 : S Job 5:16; Ps 10:2; 94:6; 109:16
  38. Job 20:19 : S Dt 15:11; 24:14; Job 24:4, 14; 35:9; Pr 14:31; 28:28; Am 8:4
  39. Job 20:19 : Isa 5:8
  40. Job 20:20 : Ecc 5:12-14
  41. Job 20:20 : S ver 10; Pr 11:4; Zep 1:18; Lk 12:15
  42. Job 20:21 : S Job 7:8
  43. Job 20:22 : S Jdg 2:15; Lk 12:16-20
  44. Job 20:22 : ver 29; Job 21:17, 30; 31:2-3
  45. Job 20:23 : S Nu 11:18-20
  46. Job 20:23 : La 4:11; Eze 5:13; 6:12
  47. Job 20:23 : ver 14; Ps 78:30-31
  48. Job 20:24 : Isa 24:18; Jer 46:21; 48:44
  49. Job 20:24 : S Job 15:22
  50. Job 20:25 : S Job 18:11
  51. Job 20:25 : S Job 15:21; Ps 88:15-16
  52. Job 20:26 : S Job 5:14
  53. Job 20:26 : S Job 1:16
  54. Job 20:26 : Job 15:34; 26:6; 28:22; 31:12; Ps 21:9
  55. Job 20:26 : S Job 18:15
  56. Job 20:27 : S Dt 31:28
  57. Job 20:28 : Dt 28:31; Mt 7:26-27
  58. Job 20:28 : ver 29; Nu 14:28-32; Job 21:17, 20, 30; 40:11; Ps 60:3; 75:8; Pr 16:4; Isa 24:18; 51:17; Am 5:18; Jn 3:36; Ro 1:18; Eph 5:6
  59. Job 20:29 : S ver 22; S Job 15:20; 22:5; 31:2; 36:17; Jer 13:25; Rev 21:8

You Might Also Like:

Job 20 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

20 And Zophar the Naamathite answereth and saith: -- 2 Therefore my thoughts cause me to answer, And because of my sensations in me. 3 The chastisement of my shame I hear, And the spirit of mine understanding Doth cause me to answer: 4 This hast thou known from antiquity? Since the placing of man on...
Read More

Job 20 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

20 And then Zophar (the) Naamathite answered, and said, 2 Therefore my thoughts diverse come one after another; and the mind is ravished into diverse things. (And so now my thoughts come diversely one after another; and my mind thinketh on many different things.) 3 I shall hear the teaching, by whic...
Read More

Job 20 - World English Bible (WEB)

20 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, 2 “Therefore my thoughts answer me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.3 I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame. The spirit of my understanding answers me.4 Don’t you know this from old time, since man was placed on earth,5 that the triumphing o...
Read More

Job 20 - The Voice (VOICE)

20 Zophar the Naamathite reiterated his concern for Job. 2 Zophar: My anguished thoughts force me to respond because I feel an urgency within myself.3 I caught wind of your words that dishonor me, but I am prompted to answer based on my own spirit and understanding.4 Don’t you know how it has alwa...
Read More

Job 20 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Zophar: Death and Hell for the Wicked20 Then Zophar the Naamathite responded and said: 2 “In truth, my troubled thoughts urge me to answer because of my feelings within me.3 I hear a rebuke that dishonors me and my understanding inspires me to reply.4 Do you not know that it has been from old, since...
Read More

Job 20 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Zophar Speaks: Wickedness Receives Just Retribution20 Then Zophar the Na′amathite answered: 2 “Therefore my thoughts answer me, because of my haste within me.3 I hear censure which insults me, and out of my understanding a spirit answers me.4 Do you not know this from of old, since man was placed up...
Read More

Job 20 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Zophar Speaks: Wickedness Receives Just Retribution20 Then Zophar the Na′amathite answered: 2 “Therefore my thoughts answer me, because of my haste within me.3 I hear censure which insults me, and out of my understanding a spirit answers me.4 Do you not know this from of old, since man was placed up...
Read More

Job 20 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Zophar Speaks: Wickedness Receives Just Retribution20 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered: 2 “Pay attention! My thoughts urge me to answer, because of the agitation within me.3 I hear censure that insults me, and a spirit beyond my understanding answers me.4 Do you not know this from of old, ever si...
Read More

Job 20 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Zophar Speaks: Wickedness Receives Just Retribution20 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered: 2 ‘Pay attention! My thoughts urge me to answer, because of the agitation within me.3 I hear censure that insults me, and a spirit beyond my understanding answers me.4 Do you not know this from of old, ever si...
Read More

Job 20 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Zophar Speaks: Wickedness Receives Just Retribution20 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:2 “Listen! My thoughts urge me to answer because of the agitation within me.3 I hear censure that insults me, and a spirit beyond my understanding answers me.(A)4 Do you not know this from of old, ever since mo...
Read More

Job 20 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Zophar’s Second Response to Job20 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: 2 “I must reply because I am greatly disturbed.3 I’ve had to endure your insults, but now my spirit prompts me to reply. 4 “Don’t you realize that from the beginning of time, ever since people were first placed on the earth,5 the ...
Read More

Job 20 - New Life Version (NLV)

Zophar Talks20 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, 2 “My troubled thoughts make me answer, because I have no rest inside. 3 I heard the strong words that take away my honor. The spirit of my understanding makes me answer. 4 Do you not know from long ago, since man was put on earth, 5 that the h...
Read More

Job 20 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Zophar’s Sermon on the Wicked Man20 Then (A)Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: 2 “Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer,Because of the turmoil within me.3 I have heard the rebuke [a]that reproaches me,And the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer. 4 “Do you not know this of (B)...
Read More

Job 20 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Zophar20 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: 2 ‘My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer because I am greatly disturbed.3 I hear a rebuke that dishonours me, and my understanding inspires me to reply. 4 ‘Surely you know how it has been from of old, ever since mankind[a] was placed on the earth,5 tha...
Read More

Job 20 - New International Version (NIV)

Zophar20 Then Zophar the Naamathite(A) replied: 2 “My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer because I am greatly disturbed.(B)3 I hear a rebuke(C) that dishonors me, and my understanding inspires me to reply. 4 “Surely you know how it has been from of old,(D) ever since mankind[a] was placed on the ...
Read More

Job 20 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

The Second Speech of Zophar20 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied, 2 “My troubled thoughts force me to answer you. That’s because I’m very upset.3 What you have just said dishonors me. So I really have to reply to you. 4 “I’m sure you must know how things have always been. They’ve been that way ever ...
Read More

Job 20 - New English Translation (NET)

Zophar’s Second Speech[a]20 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered: 2 “This is why[b] my troubled thoughts bring me back[c]—because of my feelings[d] within me.3 When[e] I hear a reproof that dishonors[f] me,then my understanding[g] prompts me to answer.[h]4 “Surely you know[i] that it has been from ol...
Read More