Job 20

“Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,” Naming Naamathite and Zophar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.” The line’s distinctive content terms include answer, causeth, check. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,” Naming Knowest keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;” Naming Though keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“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 command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;” Naming Though keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:” Naming Though keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.” Naming Yet keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include cometh, body, drawn. Its relationship to verses 26 shows what work it does in this passage.

“All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.