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 person’s lot(H) from God,
the inheritance God ordained for him.

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Footnotes

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

20 “Because he knew no quiet [a]within him,
He does (A)not retain anything he desires.
21 Nothing remains [b]for him to devour,
Therefore (B)his prosperity does not endure.
22 In the fullness of his excess he will be cramped;
The (C)hand of everyone who suffers will come against him.
23 When he (D)fills his belly,
God will send His fierce anger on him
And (E)rain it on him [c]while he is eating.
24 He may (F)flee from the iron weapon,
But the bronze bow will pierce him.
25 It is drawn and comes out of his back,
Even the flashing point from (G)his gallbladder;
(H)Terrors come upon him,
26 Complete (I)darkness is held in reserve for his treasures,
And unfanned (J)fire will devour him;
It will consume the survivor in his tent.
27 The (K)heavens will reveal his guilt,
And the earth will rise up against him.
28 The (L)increase of his house will disappear;
His possessions will flow away (M)on the day of His anger.
29 This is a wicked person’s (N)portion from God,
The inheritance decreed to him by God.”

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Footnotes

  1. Job 20:20 Lit in his belly
  2. Job 20:21 Or of what he devours
  3. Job 20:23 Or as his food