Don’t you know that ever since antiquity,
from the time man was placed on earth,
the joy of the wicked has been brief
and the happiness of the godless has lasted only a moment?(A)
Though his arrogance reaches heaven,
and his head touches the clouds,(B)
he will vanish forever like his own dung.
Those who know[a] him will ask, “Where is he?”(C)
He will fly away like a dream and never be found;
he will be chased away like a vision in the night.(D)
The eye that saw him will see him no more,(E)
and his household will no longer see him.(F)
10 His children will beg from[b] the poor,
for his own hands must give back his wealth.
11 His bones may be full of youthful vigor,
but will lie down with him in the grave.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. Job 20:7 Lit have seen
  2. Job 20:10 Or children must compensate

Do you know this from long ago—
        from when humans were placed on earth—
    that the rejoicing of the wicked is short,
        the joy of the godless, brief?
Though their height reaches heaven
    and their heads touch the clouds,
    they will perish forever like their dung;
    those who saw them will say, “Where are they?”
They will disappear like a dream,
        and none will find them,
    carried away like a nighttime vision.
The eye that saw them will do so no more;
    they won’t be seen again at home.
10 Their children will repay the poor;
    their hands will give back their wealth.
11 Vigor filled their bones
    and now sleeps with them in the dust.

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