Job Chapter 20

From The Open Bible Project

20:1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

20:2 "Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.

20:3 I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame. The spirit of my understanding answers me.

• (a) He declares that two things moved him to speak: that is, because Job seemed to touch him, and because he thought he had knowledge sufficient to confute him.

20:4 Don't you know this from old time, since man was placed on earth,

20:5 that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?

20:6 Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,

• (b) His purpose is to prove Job to be a wicked man, and a hypocrite, because God punished him, and changed his prosperity into adversity.

20:7 yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him shall say, 'Where is he?'

20:8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found. Yes, he shall be chased away like a vision of the night.

20:9 The eye which saw him shall see him no more, neither shall his place any more see him.

20:10 His children shall seek the favor of the poor. His hands shall give back his wealth.

• (c) While the father through ambition and tyranny oppressed the poor, the children through poverty and misery will seek favour from the poor.
• (d) So that the thing which he has taken away by violence will be restored again by force.

20:11 His bones are full of his youth, but youth shall lie down with him in the dust.

• (e) Meaning that he will carry nothing away with him but his sin.

20:12 "Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,

• (f) As poison that is sweet in the mouth brings destruction when it comes into the body: so all vice at the first is pleasant, but God later turns it to destruction.

20:13 though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;

20:14 yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him.

20:15 He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.

20:16 He shall suck cobra venom. The viper's tongue shall kill him.

• (g) He compares ill-gotten goods to the venom of asps, which is a dangerous serpent, noting that Jobs great riches were not truly come by and therefore God plagues him justly for the same.

20:17 He shall not look at the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.

• (h) Though God gives all other abundance from his blessings yet he will have no part of it.

20:18 That for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.

• (i) That is these raveners and spoilers of the poor will enjoy their theft but for a time for after God will take it from them, and cause them to make restitution so that it is only an exchange.

20:19 For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.

20:20 "Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save anything of that in which he delights.

20:21 There was nothing left that he didn't devour, therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

• (k) He will leave nothing to his posterity.

20:22 In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress shall overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come on him.

• (l) The wicked will never be in rest: for one wicked man will seek to destroy another.

20:23 When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.

• (m) Some read, upon his flesh, alluding to Job, whose flesh was smitten with a scab.

20:24 He shall flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow shall strike him through.

20:25 He draws it forth, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on him.

• (n) Some read, of the quiver.

20:26 All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent.

• (o) All fear and sorrow will light on him when he thinks to escape.
• (p) That is, fire from heaven, or the fire of God’s wrath.

20:27 The heavens shall reveal his iniquity. The earth shall rise up against him.

20:28 The increase of his house shall depart. They shall rush away in the day of his wrath.

• (q) Meaning, the children of the wicked will flow away like rivers and be dispersed in various places.

20:29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the heritage appointed to him by God."

• (r) Thus God will plague the wicked.
• (s) Against God, thinking to excuse himself, and to escape God’s hand.