Job 20:1-29 NCV

[1] Then Zophar the Naamathite answered: [2] "My troubled thoughts cause me to answer, because I am very upset. [3] You correct me and I am insulted, but I understand how to answer you. [4] "You know how it has been for a long time, ever since people were first put on the earth. [5] The happiness of evil people is brief, and the joy of the wicked lasts only a moment. [6] Their pride may be as high as the heavens, and their heads may touch the clouds, [7] but they will be gone forever, like their own dung. People who knew them will say, 'Where are they?' [8] They will fly away like a dream and not be found again; they will be chased away like a vision in the night. [9] Those who saw them will not see them again; the places where they lived will see them no more. [10] Their children will have to pay back the poor, and they will have to give up their wealth. [11] They had the strength of their youth in their bones, but it will lie with them in the dust of death. [12] "Evil may taste sweet in their mouths, and they may hide it under their tongues. [13] They cannot stand to let go of it; they keep it in their mouths. [14] But their food will turn sour in their stomachs, like the poison of a snake inside them. [15] They have swallowed riches, but they will spit them out; God will make them vomit their riches up. [16] They will suck the poison of snakes, and the snake's fangs will kill them. [17] They will not admire the sparkling streams or the rivers flowing with honey and cream. [18] They must give back what they worked for without eating it; they will not enjoy the money they made from their trading, [19] because they troubled the poor and left them with nothing. They have taken houses they did not build. [20] "Evil people never lack an appetite, and nothing escapes their selfishness. [21] But nothing will be left for them to eat; their riches will not continue. [22] When they still have plenty, trouble will catch up to them, and great misery will come down on them. [23] When the wicked fill their stomachs, God will send his burning anger against them, and blows of punishment will fall on them like rain. [24] The wicked may run away from an iron weapon, but a bronze arrow will stab them. [25] They will pull the arrows out of their backs and pull the points out of their livers. Terrors will come over them; [26] total darkness waits for their treasure. A fire not fanned by people will destroy them and burn up what is left of their tents. [27] The heavens will show their guilt, and the earth will rise up against them. [28] A flood will carry their houses away, swept away on the day of God's anger. [29] This is what God plans for evil people; this is what he has decided they will receive."