Job 20
Zophar: The Joy of the Godless Is Brief
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The Second Speech of Zophar
20:1Then Zophar the Minaean replied:
20:2“I did not expect you to answer back like this,
and you do not understand more than I do.
20:3I will hear correction that puts me to shame,
and a spirit from understanding answers me.
20:4Did you not know these things from of old,
since a human was placed upon the earth?
20:5For the delight of the ungodly is a terrible fall,
and the joy of the lawless is destruction,
20:6even if his gifts rise to heaven
and his sacrifice touches the clouds.
20:7For when he thinks he has become firmly established,
then he will perish utterly;
those who saw him will say, ‘Where is he?’
20:8Like a dream that has flown away, he will certainly not be found;
he flew off like a nighttime apparition.
20:9An eye glanced past him and will not do so again,
and his place will no longer perceive him.
20:10May lesser men destroy his sons,
and may his hands blaze with pains.
20:11His bones were filled with his youth,
and it will lie with him upon the mound.
20:12If evil becomes sweet in his mouth,
he will hide it under his tongue;
20:13he will not spare it and will not abandon it,
and he will hold it inside his throat.
20:14And he will certainly not be able to help himself;
an asp’s gall is in his belly.
20:15Wealth gathered unjustly will be vomited up;
an angel will drag it from his house.
20:16May he suck the fury of dragons,
and may a serpent’s tongue destroy him.
20:17May he not see the milking of grazing herds,
nor pastures of honey and butter.
20:18He toiled for wealth in empty and futile things,
wealth he will not taste,
like gristly meat that cannot be chewed or swallowed.
20:19For he shattered the houses of many powerless people;
he seized a dwelling and did not establish it.
20:20There is no deliverance for his possessions;
in his desire he will not be saved.
20:21There is no remainder of his food;
therefore his good things will not flourish.
20:22When he thinks he is already filled,
he will be afflicted,
and every constraint will come upon him.
20:23If somehow he might fill his belly,
may He send a fury of wrath upon him
and shower pains upon him.
20:24He will certainly not be saved from the hand of iron;
may a bronze bow wound him.
20:25May an arrow pass through his body,
and may lightning bolts walk among his dwellings;
terrors are upon him.
20:26May every darkness remain for him;
an unkindled fire will consume him,
and may a stranger harm his house.
20:27May heaven uncover his lawless deeds,
and may earth rise against him.
20:28May destruction drag his house utterly away;
may a day of wrath come upon him.
20:29This is an ungodly person’s portion from the Lord,
and the possession of his belongings from the Overseer.”
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.