Job Chapter 20

The question" Why do innocent people suffer?" Is addressed in this biblical story.

A Conservative Version

20 : 1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, and said,

20 : 2 Therefore my thoughts cause me to answer, even because of my haste that is in me.

20 : 3 I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame, and the spirit of my understanding answers me.

20 : 4 Know thou this of old time, since man was placed upon earth,

20 : 5 that the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the profane but for a moment?

20 : 6 Though his height mounts up to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds,

20 : 7 yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him shall say, Where is he?

20 : 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.

20 : 9 The eye which saw him shall see him no more, neither shall his place any more behold him.

20 : 10 His sons shall seek the favor of the poor, and his hands shall give back his wealth.

20 : 11 His bones are full of his youth, but it shall lie down with him in the dust.

20 : 12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,

20 : 13 though he spares it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth,

20 : 14 yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is the gall of asps within him.

20 : 15 He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.

20 : 16 He shall suck the poison of asps. The viper's tongue shall kill him.

20 : 17 He shall not look upon the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.

20 : 18 That which he labored for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.

20 : 19 For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.

20 : 20 Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save any of that in which he delights.

20 : 21 There was nothing left that he did not devour, therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

20 : 22 In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits. The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come upon him.

20 : 23 When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, and will rain it upon him while he is eating.

20 : 24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of brass shall strike him through.

20 : 25 He draws it forth, and it comes out of his body, yea, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors are upon him.

20 : 26 All darkness is laid up for his treasures. A fire not blown shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent.

20 : 27 The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.

20 : 28 The increase of his house shall depart, flowed away in the day of his wrath.

20 : 29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God.