Chapter 20

¹ Then Sophar the Minæan answered and said,

² I did not suppose that thou wouldest answer thus: neither do ye understand more than I. ³ I will hear my shameful reproach; and the spirit of my understanding answers me.

⁴ Hast thou not known these things of old, from the time that man was set upon the earth? ⁵ But the mirth of the ungodly is a signal downfall,

680

and the joy of transgressors is destruction: ⁶ although his gifts should go up to heaven, and his ¹sacrifice reach the clouds. ⁷ For when he shall seem to be now established, then he shall utterly perish: and they that knew him shall say, Where is he? ⁸ Like a dream that has fled away, he shall not be found; and he has fled like a vision of the night. ⁹ The eye has looked upon him, but shall not see him again; and his place shall no longer perceive him. ¹⁰ Let his inferiors destroy his children, and let his hands ²kindle the fire of sorrow. ¹¹ His bones have been filled with vigour of his youth, and it shall lie down with him in the dust.

¹² Though evil be sweet in his mouth, though he will hide it under his tongue; ¹³ though he will not spare it, and will not leave it, but will keep it in the midst of his throat: ¹⁴ yet he shall not at all be able to help himself; the gall of an asp is in his belly.

¹⁵ His wealth unjustly collected shall be vomited up; a messenger of ³wrath shall drag him out of his house. ¹⁶ And let him suck the ⁴poison of serpents, and let the serpent's tongue slay him. ¹⁷ Let him not see the ⁵milk of the pastures, nor the ⁶supplies of honey and butter. ¹⁸ He has laboured unprofitably and in vain, for wealth of which he shall not taste: it is as a lean thing, unfit for food, which he cannot swallow. ¹⁹ For he has broken down the houses of many ⁷mighty men: and he has plundered an habitation, though he built it not. ²⁰ There is no security to his possessions; he shall not be saved by his desire. ²¹ There is nothing remaining of his provisions; therefore his goods shall not flourish. ²² But when he shall seem to be just satisfied, he shall be ⁸straitened; and all distress shall come upon him.

²³ If by any means he would fill his belly, let God send upon him the fury of wrath; let him bring a torrent of pains upon him. ²⁴ And he shall by no means escape from the power of the sword; let the brazen bow wound him. ²⁵ And let the arrow pierce through his body; and ⁹let the stars be against his dwelling-place: let terrors come upon him. ²⁶ And let all darkness wait for him: a fire that burns not out shall consume him; and let a stranger plague his house. ²⁷ And let the heaven reveal his iniquities, and the earth rise up against him. ²⁸ Let destruction bring his house to an end; let a day of wrath come upon him. ²⁹ This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of his goods appointed him by ¹⁰the all-seeing God.