²⁰ But the wicked^(A) are like the tossing sea,^(B)
    which cannot rest,
    whose waves cast up mire^(C) and mud.

¹¹ Woe to the wicked!^(A)
    Disaster^(B) is upon them!
They will be paid back^(C)
    for what their hands have done.^(D)

¹⁶ For they cannot rest until they do evil;^(A)
    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
¹⁷ They eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.^(B)

⁵ “The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out;^(A)
    the flame of his fire stops burning.^(B)
6 The light in his tent^(C) becomes dark;^(D)
    the lamp beside him goes out.^(E)
7 The vigor^(F) of his step is weakened;^(G)
    his own schemes^(H) throw him down.^(I)
8 His feet thrust him into a net;^(J)
    he wanders into its mesh.
⁹ A trap seizes him by the heel;
    a snare^(K) holds him fast.^(L)
10 A noose^(M) is hidden for him on the ground;
    a trap^(N) lies in his path.^(O)
11 Terrors^(P) startle him on every side^(Q)
    and dog^(R) his every step.
¹² Calamity^(S) is hungry^(T) for him;
    disaster^(U) is ready for him when he falls.^(V)
13 It eats away parts of his skin;^(W)
    death’s firstborn devours his limbs.^(X)
14 He is torn from the security of his tent^(Y)
    and marched off to the king^(Z) of terrors.^(AA)

¹⁸ Surely you place them on slippery ground;^(A)
    you cast them down to ruin.^(B)
19 How suddenly^(C) are they destroyed,
    completely swept away^(D) by terrors!
²⁰ They are like a dream^(E) when one awakes;^(F)
    when you arise, Lord,
    you will despise them as fantasies.^(G)

¹¹ The youthful vigor^(A) that fills his bones^(B)
    will lie with him in the dust.^(C)

¹² “Though evil^(D) is sweet in his mouth
    and he hides it under his tongue,^(E)
13 though he cannot bear to let it go
    and lets it linger in his mouth,^(F)
14 yet his food will turn sour in his stomach;^(G)
    it will become the venom of serpents^(H) within him.
¹⁵ He will spit out the riches^(I) he swallowed;
    God will make his stomach vomit^(J) them up.
¹⁶ He will suck the poison^(K) of serpents;
    the fangs of an adder will kill him.^(L)
17 He will not enjoy the streams,
    the rivers^(M) flowing with honey^(N) and cream.^(O)
18 What he toiled for he must give back uneaten;^(P)
    he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.^(Q)
19 For he has oppressed the poor^(R) and left them destitute;^(S)
    he has seized houses^(T) he did not build.

²⁰ “Surely he will have no respite from his craving;^(U)
    he cannot save himself by his treasure.^(V)
21 Nothing is left for him to devour;
    his prosperity will not endure.^(W)
22 In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him;^(X)
    the full force of misery will come upon him.^(Y)
23 When he has filled his belly,^(Z)
    God will vent his burning anger^(AA) against him
    and rain down his blows on him.^(AB)
24 Though he flees^(AC) from an iron weapon,
    a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.^(AD)
25 He pulls it out of his back,
    the gleaming point out of his liver.
Terrors^(AE) will come over him;^(AF)
26     total darkness^(AG) lies in wait for his treasures.
A fire^(AH) unfanned will consume him^(AI)
    and devour what is left in his tent.^(AJ)
27 The heavens will expose his guilt;
    the earth will rise up against him.^(AK)
28 A flood will carry off his house,^(AL)
    rushing waters^[a] on the day of God’s wrath.^(AM)
29 Such is the fate God allots the wicked,
    the heritage appointed for them by God.”^(AN)

²⁰ All his days the wicked man suffers torment,^(A)
    the ruthless man through all the years stored up for him.^(B)
21 Terrifying sounds fill his ears;^(C)
    when all seems well, marauders attack him.^(D)
22 He despairs of escaping the realm of darkness;^(E)
    he is marked for the sword.^(F)
23 He wanders about^(G) for food like a vulture;^(H)
    he knows the day of darkness^(I) is at hand.^(J)
24 Distress and anguish^(K) fill him with terror;^(L)
    troubles overwhelm him, like a king^(M) poised to attack,