CHAPTER 20

              ¹And Zophar the Naamathite spoke out and he said:

              ²So my thoughts give me a rejoinder,

                       by dint of my inner sense.

              ³I have heard the reproof to my shame,

                       and a spirit from my mind lets me answer.

              ⁴This have you known of old,

                     from when man was set upon earth?

              ⁵For the wicked men’s gladness is fleeting,

                     and the tainted man’s joy but a moment.

              ⁶Though his summit ascend to the heavens,

                     and his head reach up to the clouds,

              ⁷  like his turd, he is lost forever,

                     those who see him will say, “Where is he?”

              ⁸Like a dream he flies off, none will find him,

                     he will melt like a nighttime vision.

              ⁹The eye that observed him will do it no more,

                     nor again will his place behold him.

              ¹⁰His sons will placate the poor,

                     and his hands will give back his wealth.

              ¹¹His bones that were full of youth

                     with him will lie in the dust.

              ¹²Should evil be sweet in his mouth

                     and he hide it under his tongue,

              ¹³should he cherish it, not let it go,

                     and hold it back on his palate,

              ¹⁴  his food will turn in his innards—

                     vipers’ bile in his gut.

              ¹⁵Goods he swallowed he will vomit,

                       from his belly God will expel them.

              ¹⁶He will suck the venom of vipers,

                     the tongue of the asp will slay him.

              ¹⁷He will see no streams of rivers

                     and brooks of honey and curds.

              ¹⁸He will give back gain, not swallow it,

                       like the goods, their value, and take no pleasure.

              ¹⁹For he crushed, he forsook the poor,

                     he stole a house that he did not build.

              ²⁰For he will not know quiet in his belly,

                       with his treasure he will not escape.

              ²¹There is no remnant of his food,

                     so   he cannot hope to have bounty.

              ²²When his need is filled he feels distressed—

                     every wretched man’s hand comes against him.

              ²³Let him fill his belly,

                     He will send against him His burning wrath

                           to rain down upon him   as he eats.

              ²⁴Should he flee from the iron weapon,

                       a bow of bronze will pierce him.

              ²⁵  Unsheathed, it comes out through his back,

                     the blade through his gall,

                           casting terror upon him.

              ²⁶Sheer darkness   lurks for his treasured larks,

                     a fire unfanned consumes him,

                           the remnant of his tent is smashed.

              ²⁷The heavens will lay bare his crime

                     and earth will rise up against him.

              ²⁸A torrent will take down his house,

                     pouring out on the day of His wrath.

              ²⁹This is the wicked man’s share from God,

                     the inheritance God has willed him.