| Chapter 20 |
1 |
And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,
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2 |
Therefore do my thoughts give me an answer, and for this is my haste within me.
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3 |
I hear a reproof putting me to shame; and [my] spirit answereth me by mine understanding.
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4 |
Knowest thou [not] this, that of old, since man was placed upon earth,
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5 |
The exultation of the wicked is short, and the joy of the ungodly man but for a moment?
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6 |
Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds,
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7 |
Like his own dung doth he perish for ever; they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?
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8 |
He flieth away as a dream, and is not found; and is chased away as a vision of the night.
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9 |
The eye which saw him shall [see him] not again; and his place beholdeth him no more.
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10 |
His children shall seek the favour of the poor, and his hands restore his wealth.
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11 |
His bones were full of his youthful strength; but it shall lie down with him in the dust.
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12 |
Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth [and] he hide it under his tongue,
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13 |
[Though] he spare it, and forsake it not, but keep it within his mouth,
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14 |
His food is turned in his bowels; it is the gall of asps within him.
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15 |
He hath swallowed down riches, but he shall vomit them up again: łGod shall cast them out of his belly.
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16 |
He shall suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue shall kill him.
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17 |
He shall not see streams, rivers, brooks of honey and butter.
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18 |
That which he laboured for shall he restore, and not swallow down; its restitution shall be according to the value, and he shall not rejoice [therein].
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19 |
For he hath oppressed, hath forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away a house that he did not build.
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20 |
Because he knew no rest in his craving, he shall save nought of what he most desired.
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21 |
Nothing escaped his greediness; therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
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22 |
In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits; every hand of the wretched shall come upon him.
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23 |
It shall be that, to fill his belly, he will cast his fierce anger upon him, and will rain it upon him into his flesh.
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24 |
If he have fled from the iron weapon, the bow of brass shall strike him through.
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25 |
He draweth it forth; it cometh out of his body, and the glittering point out of his gall: terrors are upon him.
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26 |
All darkness is laid up for his treasures: a fire not blown shall devour him; it shall feed upon what is left in his tent.
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27 |
The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.
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28 |
The increase of his house shall depart, flowing away in the day of his anger.
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29 |
This is the portion of the wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed to him by łGod.
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