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.

Read full chapter

“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)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Job 20:4 Or Adam