Job 20

1 Then Zophar [the sparrow, a friend of Job] the Naamathite [from Naamah, a place of pleasantness] replied [answered, made a response, and said]: word study 2 “So [thus, in agreement] my anxious thoughts [troubling, divided mind] compel me to answer, because of [for the sake of, due to] the turmoil [haste, inner turmoil] within me [my sensations, my feelings]. word study 3 I have heard [listened to, given attention to] a rebuke [reproof, correction] that insults [puts to shame, disgraces] me, and my understanding [discernment, wisdom] prompts [causes, leads] a reply [answer, response]. word study 4 Do you not know [have knowledge of, be aware of] that from [since the time of] antiquity [old time, the beginning], since man [the first human, Adam] was placed [set, appointed] on the earth [the land, the world], word study 5 the triumph [triumphant shout for joy, singing] of the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] has been brief [short, near] and the joy [gladness, happy occasion] of the godless [hypocritical, profane] momentary [for a moment, instant, blink of an eye]? word study 6 Though his arrogance [excellency, loftiness, pride] reaches [mount up, ascend] the heavens [the visible universe, the sky], and his head [the topmost part of the body] touches [strike, reach unto] the clouds [a dark cloud, a thicket, a sign of God’s presence], word study 7 he will perish [be destroyed, come to an end] forever [for perpetuity, everlasting], like his own dung [excrement, waste]; those who had seen [looked after, provided for] him will ask, ‘Where [how, in what place] is he [has he gone, what happened to him]?’ word study 8 He will fly away [like a fleeting thought, vanish] like a dream [a prophetic vision, a nighttime apparition], never [completely, utterly] to be found; he will be chased away [driven, pursued] like a vision [a revelation, a spiritual glimpse] in the night [a time of darkness, a period of adversity]. word study 9 The eye [the source of perception] that saw [gazed upon] him will see [behold] him no more [never again], and his place [location] will no longer [not still] behold [see, observe] him. word study 10 His sons [children, descendants, or offspring] will seek [to please, flatter, or gain favor with] the favor of the poor [weak, needy, or oppressed ones], for his own hands [strength, power, or ability] must return [restore, give back, or repay] his wealth [riches, substance, or physical strength]. word study 11 The youthful vigor [full of sin, young strength] that fills his bones [the substance or essence of his being] will lie down [rest, sleep] with him [together, in company] in the dust [dry earth, clay]. word study 12 Though evil [wickedness, bad] is sweet [pleasing, enjoyable] in his mouth [lips, edge of something] and he conceals [hides, keeps secretly] it under [beneath, underneath] his tongue [language, speech], word study 13 though he cannot bear [is unable to spare, will not forsake] to let it go [release, relinquish] and keeps [holds back, withholds] it in his mouth [on his palate, within his throat], word study 14 yet in his stomach [belly, inner being] his food [bread, sustenance] sours [is turned, becomes bitter] into the venom [gall, bitter poison] of cobras [asps, venomous snakes] within him [in his entrails, midst]. word study 15 He swallows [devours, consumes] wealth [riches, substance] but vomits [spues out, throws up] it out; God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler] will force [cast, drive] it from his stomach [belly, womb]. word study 16 He will suck [swallow, ingest] the poison [gall, venom] of cobras [venomous snakes, asps]; the fangs [tongue, deadly bite] of a viper [asp, deadly snake] will kill [slay, destroy] him. word study 17 He will not [never, under no circumstances] enjoy [see, experience, or delight in] the streams [rivers, brooks, or small rivers], the rivers [a flood] flowing [abundantly, or richly] with honey [a sweet and valuable food] and cream [curd, or butter]. word study 18 He must return [give back, restore] the fruit [product, gain] of his labor [toil, hard work] without consuming [swallowing, devouring] it; he cannot [will not be able to] enjoy [rejoice, leap for joy] the profits [earnings, substance] of his trading [business, exchange]. word study 19 For he has [cruelly] oppressed [crushed, broken] and forsaken [abandoned, turned away from] the poor [weak, needy]; he has [violently] seized [plundered, taken by force] houses [dwellings, homes] he did not build [construct, establish]. word study 20 Because his appetite [was never satisfied, had no quietness] is never satisfied [did not know ease], he cannot escape [be delivered, slip away to safety] with his treasure [that which he delighted in, desired]. word study 21 Nothing [no remnant, not a crumb] is left for him to consume [devour, eat ravenously]; thus [so, in this manner] his prosperity [goodness, well-being] will not endure [last, continue]. word study 22 In the midst [center, heart] of his plenty [abundance, wealth], he will be distressed [straitened, in a tight spot]; the full force [every hand, complete power] of misery [sorrow, trouble] will come [overtake, meet] upon him [against him, to his harm]. word study 23 When he has filled [is about to fill] his stomach [belly, the seat of hunger and emotions], God [the Almighty, Creator] will vent [send forth, cast] His fury [burning anger, fierce wrath] upon him, raining [sending down, pouring out] it down on him as he eats [while he is eating, during his meal]. word study 24 Though he flees [runs away quickly, escapes] from an iron [strong metal] weapon [military equipment, arms], a bronze-tipped [made of copper or bronze, melted copper ore] arrow [projectile, used for hunting or battle] will pierce [pass through, strike] him. word study 25 It is drawn [pulled, extracted] out of his back [body, behind], the gleaming [glittering, shining] point [sword, arrowhead] from his liver [gall, bile]. Terrors [fears, dread] come [go, proceed] over him [upon, above]. word study 26 Total [utter, complete] darkness [misery, destruction] is reserved [laid up, stored] for his treasures [valuable possessions, riches]. A fire [divine, unquenchable] unfanned [not blown, unkindled] will consume [devour, eat] him and devour [destroy, burn up] what is left [remaining, surviving] in his tent [tabernacle, dwelling place]. word study 27 The heavens [the visible universe, the abode of God] will expose [reveal, uncover] his iniquity [moral evil, sin], and the earth [the land, the material world] will rise up [stand up, take a stand] against him. word study 28 The possessions [crops, wealth, or increase] of his house [dwelling place, family home] will be removed [taken away, depart], flowing away [poured out, rushed away] on the day [period of time, appointed time] of God’s [Elohim, the supreme Ruler] wrath [anger]. word study 29 This [the appointed fate] is the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] man’s portion [inheritance, share] from God [Elohim, the supreme Judge], the inheritance [heritage, legacy] God [the Lord, Almighty] has appointed [ordained, decreed] him [as his rightful due].” word study