Job 20-21

New Life Version

Zophar Talks

20 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, ² “My troubled thoughts make me answer, because I have no rest inside. ³ I heard the strong words that take away my honor. The spirit of my understanding makes me answer. ⁴ Do you not know from long ago, since man was put on earth, ⁵ that the honor of the sinful is short, and the joy of the sinful lasts only a short time? ⁶ Even if his pride is as high as the heavens and his head touches the clouds, ⁷ he will be gone forever, like his own waste. Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’ ⁸ He will fly away like a dream, and not be found. He will be driven away like a dream of the night. ⁹ The eye which saw him will see him no more. His place will no longer see him. ¹⁰ His sons will look for the favor of the poor. And his hands will give back his riches. ¹¹ His bones are full of the strength of the young, but it will lie down with him in the dust.

¹² “Sin is sweet in his mouth. He hides it under his tongue. ¹³ He hates to let it go, and holds it in his mouth. ¹⁴ Yet his food in his stomach is changed to the poison of snakes inside him. ¹⁵ He eats riches, but will spit them up. God will take them out of his stomach. ¹⁶ He will drink the poison of snakes. The snake’s tongue will kill him. ¹⁷ He will not look at the rivers, the rivers flowing with honey and milk. ¹⁸ He must return what he has worked for, and can not eat it. He will not have joy from the riches of his trading. ¹⁹ For he has taken from the poor and left them with nothing. He has taken houses which he has not built.

²⁰ “Because he thought he never had enough, he has nothing that gives him joy. ²¹ There was nothing more for him to get, so his having everything will not last. ²² Even when he has many riches, he will have trouble. Everyone who suffers will come against him. ²³ When he fills his stomach, God will send His great anger on him. He will send it on him while he is eating. ²⁴ He may get away from the iron sword, but the brass bow will shoot an arrow in him. ²⁵ It cuts through his body and comes out of his back. The shining arrow comes out of his liver. Much fear comes upon him. ²⁶ Complete darkness is stored up for his riches. A fire not kept going by man will burn him up. It will destroy all that is left in his tent. ²⁷ The heavens will make his sin known, and the earth will rise up against him. ²⁸ The things of his house will be carried away. They will be taken away in the day of God’s anger. ²⁹ This is what God has for sinful men. It is what God chooses to give to them.”

Job Talks

21 Then Job answered, ² “Be careful to listen to my words. Let this be the comfort you give me. ³ Listen to me while I speak. Then after I have spoken, you may keep on making fun of me. ⁴ As for me, am I complaining against man? Why should my spirit not be troubled? ⁵ Look at me, and be surprised; and put your hand over your mouth. ⁶ When I think, I am troubled; and fear takes hold of my body. ⁷ Why do the sinful live, become old, and become very powerful? ⁸ They watch their children’s children become strong in front of their eyes. ⁹ Their houses are safe from fear. And the punishment of God does not come upon them. ¹⁰ Their bull mates without trouble. Their cow gives birth to live calves. ¹¹ They send out their little ones like a flock, and their children jump around. ¹² They sing to the timbrel and the harp. They show their joy at the sound of the horn. ¹³ They spend their days with much more than they need. And all at once they go down to the place of the dead. ¹⁴ They say to God, ‘Leave us alone! We do not want to know Your ways. ¹⁵ Who is the All-powerful, that we should serve Him? What would we have more than we have if we prayed to Him?’ ¹⁶ See, their well-being is not in their own hands. The wisdom of the sinful is far from me.

¹⁷ “How many times is the lamp of the sinful put out, that their trouble comes upon them? How often does God send trouble to them in His anger? ¹⁸ Are they like straw blown by the wind? Are they like straw that the storm carries away? ¹⁹ You say, ‘God stores up a man’s punishment for his sons.’ Let God punish him so that he may know it. ²⁰ Let his own eyes see himself being destroyed. Let him drink the anger of the All-powerful. ²¹ For what does he care for his house and family after he is dead, when the number of his months is over? ²² Can anyone teach God anything, when He judges those on high? ²³ One man dies while still very strong, having everything he needs and time to enjoy it. ²⁴ His body has good food and his bones are strong. ²⁵ Another dies with bitter feelings in his soul, never having enjoyed anything good. ²⁶ Together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them.

²⁷ “See, I know your thoughts and your plans to wrong me. ²⁸ For you say, ‘Where is the house of the leader? Where are the tents where the sinful men live?’ ²⁹ Have you not asked those who travel this way? Do you listen to what they say? ³⁰ For the sinful are kept for the day of trouble. They will be brought out on the day of anger. ³¹ Who will talk to him about his way to his face? And who will punish him for what he has done? ³² When he is carried to the grave, men will keep watch over his grave. ³³ The earth of the valley will be sweet to him. All men will follow after him, and those who go before him are too many to number. ³⁴ How then can you comfort me with foolish words? Your answers are full of lies.”