Job 20:1-29 ERV

[1] Then Zophar from Naamah answered: [2] "You upset me, so I must answer you. I must tell you what I am thinking. [3] You insulted me with your answers! But I am wise and know how to answer you. [4] "You know that the joy of the wicked does not last long. That has been true a long time, ever since Adam was put on earth. Those who don't know God are happy for only a short time. [6] Maybe an evil man's pride will reach up to the sky, and his head will touch the clouds. [7] But he will be gone forever like his own body waste. People who knew him will say, 'Where is he?' [8] Like a dream, he will fly away, never to be found. He will be chased away like a bad dream. [9] Those who knew him before will not see him again. His family will never again get to see him. [10] His children will have to give back what he took from the poor. His own hands will give up his wealth. [11] When he was young, his bones were strong, but, like the rest of his body, they will soon lie in the dirt. [12] "Evil tastes sweet in his mouth. He keeps it under his tongue to enjoy it fully. [13] He hates to let it go and holds it in his mouth. [14] But that evil will turn sour in his stomach. It will be like a snake's bitter poison inside him. [15] The evil man will spit out the riches he has swallowed. God will make him vomit them up. [16] What he drank will be like a snake's poison; it will kill him like the bite of a deadly snake. [17] He will never again enjoy so much wealth- rivers flowing with honey and cream. [18] He will be forced to give back his profits. He will not be allowed to enjoy what he worked for, [19] because he hurt the poor and left them with nothing. He took houses he did not build. [20] "The evil man is never satisfied. But the things he wants cannot save him. [21] After filling himself, there is nothing left. His success will not continue. [22] Even while he has plenty, he will be pressed down with trouble. His problems will come down on him! [23] If he does get all he wants, God will throw his burning anger against him. God will attack him and rain down punishment on him. [24] Maybe he will run away from an iron sword, but then a bronze arrow will strike him down. [25] It will go through his body and stick out of his back. Its shining point will pierce his liver, and he will be shocked with terror. [26] All his treasures will be lost in darkness. He will be destroyed by a fire, a fire that no human started. It will destroy everything left in his house. [27] Heaven will prove that he is guilty. The earth will be a witness against him. [28] His house and everything in it will be carried away in the flood of God's anger. [29] That is what God will do to those who are evil. That is what he plans to give them."