“Surely you know how it has been from of old,(A)
    ever since mankind[a] was placed on the earth,
that the mirth of the wicked(B) is brief,
    the joy of the godless(C) lasts but a moment.(D)
Though the pride(E) of the godless person reaches to the heavens(F)
    and his head touches the clouds,(G)
he will perish forever,(H) like his own dung;
    those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’(I)
Like a dream(J) he flies away,(K) no more to be found,
    banished(L) like a vision of the night.(M)
The eye that saw him will not see him again;
    his place will look on him no more.(N)
10 His children(O) must make amends to the poor;
    his own hands must give back his wealth.(P)
11 The youthful vigor(Q) that fills his bones(R)
    will lie with him in the dust.(S)

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Footnotes

  1. Job 20:4 Or Adam

Destruction Awaits the Wicked

“Haven’t you known this from ancient times,
    since mankind was placed on the earth?
The wicked triumph only briefly;
    the joy of the godless is momentary.
Though he grow as tall as the sky,
    or though his head touches the clouds,
he’ll perish forever, like his own excrement;
    those who saw him will ask, ‘Where is he?’
He’ll vanish[a] like a dream, and no one will find him;
    he will be chased away like a night vision.”

“An eye that gazes at him won’t do so again;
    and his place won’t even recognize him.
10 His sons will make amends to the poor;
    their hands will return his wealth.
11 Though his bones were full of youthful vigor;
    yet they will lie down with him in the dust.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 20:8 Lit. He’ll fly away

Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

10 His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.

11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.

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