The Holy Bible
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Job 20 : 1 - 29
Chapter 20
1 | Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
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2 | "Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer, Because of the turmoil within me.
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3 | I have heard the rebuke that reproaches me, And the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer.
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4 | "Do you not know this of old, Since man was placed on earth,
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5 | That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment?
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6 | Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens, And his head reaches to the clouds,
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7 | Yet he will perish forever like his own refuse; Those who have seen him will say, "Where is he?'
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8 | He will fly away like a dream, and not be found; Yes, he will be chased away like a vision of the night.
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9 | The eye that saw him will see him no more, Nor will his place behold him anymore.
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10 | His children will seek the favor of the poor, And his hands will restore his wealth.
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11 | His bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it will lie down with him in the dust.
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12 | "Though evil is sweet in his mouth, And he hides it under his tongue,
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13 | Though he spares it and does not forsake it, But still keeps it in his mouth,
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14 | Yet his food in his stomach turns sour; It becomes cobra venom within him.
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15 | He swallows down riches And vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly.
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16 | He will suck the poison of cobras; The viper's tongue will slay him.
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17 | He will not see the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and cream.
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18 | He will restore that for which he labored, And will not swallow it down; From the proceeds of business He will get no enjoyment.
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19 | For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor, He has violently seized a house which he did not build.
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20 | "Because he knows no quietness in his heart, He will not save anything he desires.
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21 | Nothing is left for him to eat; Therefore his well-being will not last.
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22 | In his self-sufficiency he will be in distress; Every hand of misery will come against him.
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23 | When he is about to fill his stomach, God will cast on him the fury of His wrath, And will rain it on him while he is eating.
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24 | He will flee from the iron weapon; A bronze bow will pierce him through.
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25 | It is drawn, and comes out of the body; Yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors come upon him;
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26 | Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. An unfanned fire will consume him; It shall go ill with him who is left in his tent.
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27 | The heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him.
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28 | The increase of his house will depart, And his goods will flow away in the day of His wrath.
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29 | This is the portion from God for a wicked man, The heritage appointed to him by God."
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Acknowledgement
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