Job 20
Job 20 is part of “Second Cycle of Dialogue” (15–21) in the outline of Job.
Job 20 summary
One would have thought that such an excellent confession of faith as Job made, in the close of the foregoing chapter, would satisfy his friends, or at least mollify them; but they do not seem to have taken any notice of it, and therefore Zophar here takes his turn, enters the lists with Job, and attacks him with as much vehemence as before. I. His preface is short, but hot (Job 20:2, Job 20:3). II.
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One would have thought that such an excellent confession of faith as Job made, in the close of the foregoing chapter, would satisfy his friends, or at least mollify them; but they do not seem to have taken any notice of it, and therefore Zophar here takes his turn, enters the lists with Job, and attacks him with as much vehemence as before. I. His preface is short, but hot (Job 20:2, Job 20:3). II. His discourse is long, and all upon one subject, the very same that Bildad was large upon (ch. 18), the certain misery of wicked people and the ruin that awaits them. 1. He asserts, in general, that the prosperity of a wicked person is short, and his ruin sure (Job 20:4-9). 2. He proves the misery of his condition by many instances - that he should have a diseased body, a troubled conscience, a ruined estate, a beggared family, an infamous name and that he himself should perish under the weight of divine wrath: all this is most curiously described here in lofty expressions and lively similitudes; and it often proves true in this world, and always in another, without repentance (v. 10-29). But the great mistake was, and (as bishop Patrick expresses it) all the flaw in his discourse (which was common to him with the rest), that he imagined God never varied from this method, and therefore Job was, without doubt, a very bad man, though it did not appear that he was, any other way than by his infelicity.
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Job 20 (ASV)
American Standard Version (public domain)
Zophar's Second Speech: The Triumph of the Wicked Is Short
1Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, 2Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, Even by reason of my haste that is in me. 3I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame; And the spirit of my understanding answereth me. 4Knowest thou [not] this of old time, Since man was placed upon earth, 5That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless but for a moment? 6Though his height mount up to the heavens, And his head reach unto the clouds; 7Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: They that have seen him shall say, Where is he? 8He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: Yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. 9The eye which saw him shall see him no more; Neither shall his place any more behold him. 10His children shall seek the favor of the poor, And his hands shall give back his wealth. 11His bones are full of his youth, But it shall lie down with him in the dust. 12Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, Though he hide it under his tongue, 13Though he spare it, and will not let it go, But keep it still within his mouth; 14Yet his food in his bowels is turned, It is the gall of asps within him. 15He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again; God will cast them out of his belly. 16He shall suck the poison of asps: The viper’s tongue shall slay him. 17He shall not look upon the rivers, The flowing streams of honey and butter. 18That which he labored for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down; According to the substance that he hath gotten, he shall not rejoice. 19For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; He hath violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up. 20Because he knew no quietness within him, He shall not save aught of that wherein he delighteth. 21There was nothing left that he devoured not; Therefore his prosperity shall not endure. 22In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: The hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon him. 23When 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. 24He shall flee from the iron weapon, And the bow of brass shall strike him through. 25He draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body; Yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall: Terrors are upon him. 26All darkness is laid up for his treasures: A fire not blown [by man] shall devour him; It shall consume that which is left in his tent. 27The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, And the earth shall rise up against him. 28The increase of his house shall depart; [His goods] shall flow away in the day of his wrath. 29This is the portion of a wicked man from God, And the heritage appointed unto him by God.