Do you know this from (A)ancient times,
From the establishment of mankind on earth,
That the (B)rejoicing of the wicked is short,
And (C)the joy of the godless momentary?
Though his arrogance [a](D)reaches the heavens,
And his head touches the clouds,
He (E)perishes forever like his refuse;
Those who have seen him (F)will say, ‘Where is he?’
He flies away like a (G)dream, and they cannot find him;
Like a vision of the night he is (H)chased away.
The (I)eye which saw him sees him no longer,
And (J)his place no longer beholds him.
10 His (K)sons [b]favor the poor,
And his hands (L)give back his wealth.
11 His (M)bones are full of his youthful strength,
But it lies down with him [c]in the dust.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 20:6 Lit goes up to
  2. Job 20:10 Or seek the favor of
  3. Job 20:11 Lit on

“Don’t you realize that from the beginning of time,
    ever since people were first placed on the earth,
the triumph of the wicked has been short lived
    and the joy of the godless has been only temporary?
Though the pride of the godless reaches to the heavens
    and their heads touch the clouds,
yet they will vanish forever,
    thrown away like their own dung.
Those who knew them will ask,
    ‘Where are they?’
They will fade like a dream and not be found.
    They will vanish like a vision in the night.
Those who once saw them will see them no more.
    Their families will never see them again.
10 Their children will beg from the poor,
    for they must give back their stolen riches.
11 Though they are young,
    their bones will lie in the dust.

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