20 Because his appetite is never satisfied,[a]
he does not let anything he desires escape.
21 Nothing is left for him to consume;(A)
therefore, his prosperity will not last.
22 At the height of his success[b] distress will come to him;(B)
the full weight of misery[c] will crush him.
23 When he fills his stomach,
God will send His burning anger against him,
raining(C) it down on him while he is eating.[d]
24 If he flees from an iron weapon,
an arrow from a bronze bow will pierce him.
25 He pulls it out of his back,
the flashing tip out of his liver.[e]
Terrors come over him.(D)
26 Total darkness is reserved for his treasures.
A fire unfanned by human hands will consume(E) him;
it will feed on what is left in his tent.
27 The heavens will expose his iniquity,(F)
and the earth will rise up against him.(G)
28 The possessions in his house will be removed,
flowing away on the day of God’s anger.
29 This is the wicked man’s lot(H) from God,
the inheritance God ordained for him.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 20:20 Lit Because he does not know ease in his stomach
  2. Job 20:22 Lit In the fullness of his excess
  3. Job 20:22 Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg; other Hb mss read the hand of everyone in misery
  4. Job 20:23 Text emended; MT reads him, against his flesh
  5. Job 20:25 Or gallbladder

20     didn’t know contentment in their belly;
    couldn’t escape with their treasure.
21 Nothing remained of their food,
    so their riches will not endure.
22 Even in their plenty, they are hard-pressed;
    all sorts of trouble come on them.
23 Let God[a] fill their belly,
    unleash his burning anger on them,
    rain punishing blows on them.
24 If they flee an iron weapon,
    a bronze bow pierces them.
25 They pull it out, but it sticks out from their backs;
    its shaft in their liver brings terror.
26 Complete darkness waits for their treasured possessions;
    fire that no one stoked consumes them;
        what’s left in their tent is ruined.
27 Heaven exposes their guilt;
    earth opposes them.
28 Their household wealth will be carried off
    by rushing streams on the day of his anger.
29 This is a wicked person’s lot from God,
    their heritage decreed by God.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 20:23 Or him