| 20:1 | Zophar's Sermon on the Wicked ManZophar's Sermon on the Wicked Man Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: |
| 20:2 | Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer, Because of the turmoil within me. |
| 20:3 | I have heard the rebuke that reproaches me, And the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer. |
| 20:4 | Do you not know this of old, Since man was placed on earth, |
| 20:5 | That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment? |
| 20:6 | Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens, And his head reaches to the clouds, |
| 20:7 | Yet he will perish forever like his own refuse; Those who have seen him will say, "Where is he?' |
| 20:8 | He will fly away like a dream, and not be found; Yes, he will be chased away like a vision of the night. |
| 20:9 | The eye that saw him will see him no more, Nor will his place behold him anymore. |
| 20:10 | His children will seek the favor of the poor, And his hands will restore his wealth. |
| 20:11 | His bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it will lie down with him in the dust. |
| 20:12 | Though evil is sweet in his mouth, And he hides it under his tongue, |
| 20:13 | Though he spares it and does not forsake it, But still keeps it in his mouth, |
| 20:14 | Yet his food in his stomach turns sour; It becomes cobra venom within him. |
| 20:15 | He swallows down riches And vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly. |
| 20:16 | He will suck the poison of cobras; The viper's tongue will slay him. |
| 20:17 | He will not see the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and cream. |
| 20:18 | He will restore that for which he labored, And will not swallow it down; From the proceeds of business He will get no enjoyment. |
| 20:19 | For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor, He has violently seized a house which he did not build. |
| 20:20 | Because he knows no quietness in his heart, He will not save anything he desires. |
| 20:21 | Nothing is left for him to eat; Therefore his well-being will not last. |
| 20:22 | In his self-sufficiency he will be in distress; Every hand of misery will come against him. |
| 20:23 | When he is about to fill his stomach, God will cast on him the fury of His wrath, And will rain it on him while he is eating. |
| 20:24 | He will flee from the iron weapon; A bronze bow will pierce him through. |
| 20:25 | It is drawn, and comes out of the body; Yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors come upon him; |
| 20:26 | Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. An unfanned fire will consume him; It shall go ill with him who is left in his tent. |
| 20:27 | The heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him. |
| 20:28 | The increase of his house will depart, And his goods will flow away in the day of His wrath. |
| 20:29 | This is the portion from God for a wicked man, The heritage appointed to him by God." |