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Do you not know this from of old,
    ever since mortals were placed on earth,(A)
that the exulting of the wicked is short
    and the joy of the godless is but for a moment?(B)
Even though they mount up high as the heavens
    and their head reaches to the clouds,(C)
they will perish forever like their own dung;
    those who have seen them will say, ‘Where are they?’
They will fly away like a dream and not be found;
    they will be chased away like a vision of the night.(D)
The eye that saw them will see them no more,
    nor will their place behold them any longer.(E)
10 Their children will seek the favor of the poor,
    and their hands will give back their wealth.(F)
11 Their bodies, once full of youth,
    will lie down in the dust with them.(G)

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“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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“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