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Job

Explores the themes of suffering and faith through the story of Job, a man tested by losing everything.

Chapter 20

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1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

*Then Zophar from Naamah spoke and said,

2 Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.

*So, my thoughts lead me to reply, and that's why I hurry up.

3 I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.

*I heard the criticism about me, and the part of me that understands makes me respond.

4 Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

*Do you not know this from long ago, when people first lived on the earth?

5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

*So, the victory of bad people doesn't last long, and the happiness of fake people is only temporary.

6 Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

*Even though someone is really important and becomes famous, reaching great heights like the sky and seeming very high, just like a cloud.

7 Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

*However, he will be destroyed forever, just like garbage: those who saw him will ask, "Where did he go?"

8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

*He will disappear like a dream, and won't be found. Yes, he will be chased away like a nighttime vision.

9 The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

*The eye that saw him will not see him again, and his place won't see him either.

10 His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.

*His kids will try to make the poor happy, and his hands will bring back what they lost.

11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.

*His bones hold memories of his past sins from when he was young, and these will rest with him in the ground when he dies.

12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;

*Even if evil seems tasty to him and he hides it in his mouth,

13 Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:

*Even though he doesn't destroy it and always keeps it in his mouth.

14 Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.

*His insides are filled with venomous snake poison.

15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

*He has taken much wealth but will throw it up; God will force it out from his stomach.

16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.

*He will drink the venom of snakes: the snake's bite will kill him.

17 He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.

*He won't see rivers, big water flows, or streams filled with honey and butter.

18 That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.

*Whatever he worked for, he must return, and won't keep it; the return will be based on what he has, and he won't be happy about it.

19 Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;

*Because he mistreated and left the poor; because he forcefully took a house he didn't build.

20 Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.

*He won't be calm inside and can't keep what he wants.

21 There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.

*No meat will be leftover, so no one can search for possessions.

22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.

*When he has everything, he will face difficulties; the wicked will take action against him.

23 When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.

*When he's almost full, God will send his anger down on him, and pour it out while he eats.

24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.

*He will run away from the metal weapon, and the strong steel bow will pierce him.

25 It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.

*The sword is pulled out from the person's body, coming out covered in shiny stuff. The person is filled with fear.

26 All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.

*All darkness will be hidden in secret places: an unblown fire will burn him; it won't go well for those who stay in their shelter.

27 The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.

*The sky will show his wrongdoing; and the ground will stand up against him.

28 The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

*His wealth will be taken away and lost on the day he faces anger.

29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.

*This is what God gives to a bad person, and the inheritance he receives from God.

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