Chapter
20
Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,
"Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.
I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame. The spirit of my understanding answers me.
Don't you know this from old time, since woman was placed on earth,
that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?
Though her height mount up to the heavens, and her head reach to the clouds,
yet she shall perish forever like her own dung. Those who have seen her shall say, 'Where is she?'
She shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found. Yes, she shall be chased away like a vision of the night.
The eye which saw her shall see her no more, neither shall her place any more see her.
Her children shall seek the favor of the poor. Her hands shall give back her wealth.
Her bones are full of her youth, but youth shall lie down with her in the dust.
"Though wickedness is sweet in her mouth, though she hide it under her tongue,
though she spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within her mouth;
yet her food in her bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within her.
She has swallowed down riches, and she shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of her belly.
She shall suck cobra venom. The viper's tongue shall kill her.
She shall not look at the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.
That for which she labored she shall restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that she has gotten, she shall not rejoice.
For she has oppressed and forsaken the poor. She has violently taken away a house, and she shall not build it up.
"Because she knew no quietness within her, she shall not save anything of that in which she delights.
There was nothing left that she didn't devour, therefore hers prosperity shall not endure.
In the fullness of her sufficiency, distress shall overtake her. The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come on her.
When she is about to fill her belly, God will cast the fierceness of her wrath on her. It will rain on her while she is eating.
She shall flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow shall strike her through.
She draws it forth, and it comes out of her body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of her liver. Terrors are on her.
All darkness is laid up for her treasures. An unfanned fire shall devour her. It shall consume that which is left in her tent.
The heavens shall reveal her iniquity. The earth shall rise up against her.
The increase of her house shall depart. They shall rush away in the day of her wrath.
This is the portion of a wicked woman from God, the heritage appointed to her by God."