Job 20New King James Version
Zophar’s Sermon on the Wicked Man
20 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 younotknow this of(B)old,
Since man was placed on earth,
5 (C)That the triumphing of the wicked is short,
And the joy of the hypocrite isbutfor a(D)moment?
6 (E)Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens,
And his head reaches to the clouds,
7 Yethe will perish forever like his own refuse;
Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
8 He will fly away(F)like a dream, and not be found;
Yes, he(G)will be chased away like a vision of the night.
9 The eyethatsaw him willsee himno more,
Nor will his place behold him anymore.
10 His children will seek the favor of the poor,
And his hands will restore his wealth.
11 His bones are full of(H)his youthful vigor,
(I)But it will lie down with him in the dust.
12 “Though evil is sweet in his mouth,
Andhe hides it under his tongue,
13 Thoughhe spares it and does not forsake it,
But still keeps it in his[b]mouth,
14 Yethis food in his stomach turns sour;
It becomes cobra venom within him.
15 He swallows down riches
And vomits them up again;
God casts them out of his belly.
16 He will suck the poison of cobras;
The viper’s tongue will slay him.
17 He will not see(J)the streams,
The rivers flowing with honey and cream.
18 He will restore that for which he labored,
And will not swallowitdown;
From the proceeds of business
He will get no enjoyment.
19 For he has[c]oppressedandforsaken the poor,
He has violently seized a house which he did not build.
20 “Because(K)he knows no quietness in his[d]heart,
He will not save anything he desires.
21 Nothing is left for him to eat;
Therefore his well-being will not last.
22 In his self-sufficiency he will be in distress;
Every hand of[e]misery will come against him.
23 Whenhe is about to fill his stomach,
Godwill cast on him the fury of His wrath,
And will rainiton him while he is eating.
24 (L)He will flee from the iron weapon;
A bronze bow will pierce him through.
25 It is drawn, and comes out of the body;
Yes,(M)the glitteringpoint comesout of his[f]gall.
(N)Terrorscomeupon him;
26 Total darknessisreserved for his treasures.
(O)An unfanned fire will consume him;
It shall go ill with him who is left in his tent.
27 The heavens will reveal his iniquity,
And the earth will rise up against him.
28 The increase of his house will depart,
And his goodswill flow away in the day of His(P)wrath.
29 (Q)Thisisthe portion from God for a wicked man,
The heritage appointed to him by God.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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