Bible in Basic English
He takes the poison of snakes into his mouth, the tongue of the snake is the cause of his death.
Let him not see the rivers of oil, the streams of honey and milk.
He is forced to give back the fruit of his work, and may not take it for food; he has no joy in the profit of his trading.
Because he has been cruel to the poor, turning away from them in their trouble; because he has taken a house by force which he did not put up;
There is no peace for him in his wealth, and no salvation for him in those things in which he took delight.
He had never enough for his desire; for this cause his well-being will quickly come to an end.
Even when his wealth is great, he is full of care, for the hand of everyone who is in trouble is turned against him.
God gives him his desire, and sends the heat of his wrath on him, making it come down on him like rain.
He may go in flight from the iron spear, but the arrow from the bow of brass will go through him;
He is pulling it out, and it comes out of his back; and its shining point comes out of his side; he is overcome by fears.
All his wealth is stored up for the dark: a fire not made by man sends destruction on him, and on everything in his tent.
The heavens make clear his sin, and the earth gives witness against him.
The produce of his house is taken away into another country, like things given into the hands of others in the day of wrath.
This is the reward of the evil man, and the heritage given to him by God.
— Job 20:16-1964, Bible in Basic English
“He sucks the poison of serpents; the fangs of a viper kill him. He will not look on the streams, the rivers, which are the torrents of honey and butter. He gives back the ill-gotten gain without assimilating it; he will not enjoy the wealth from his commerce. For he has oppressed the poor and abandoned them; he has seized a house which he did not build. For he knows no satisfaction in his appetite; he does not let anything he desires escape. “Nothing is left for him to devour; that is why his prosperity does not last. In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress overtakes him. The full force of misery will come upon him. “While he is filling his belly, God sends his burning anger against him, and rains down his blows upon him. If he flees from an iron weapon, then an arrow from a bronze bow pierces him. When he pulls it out and it comes out of his back, the gleaming point out of his liver, terrors come over him. Total darkness waits to receive his treasures; a fire which has not been kindled will consume him and devour what is left in his tent. The heavens reveal his iniquity; the earth rises up against him. A flood will carry off his house, rushing waters on the day of God’s wrath. Such is the lot God allots the wicked, and the heritage of his appointment from God.””
Though he takes care of it, and does not let it go, but keeps it still in his mouth;
His food becomes bitter in his stomach; the poison of snakes is inside him.
He takes down wealth as food, and sends it up again; it is forced out of his stomach by God.
He takes the poison of snakes into his mouth, the tongue of the snake is the cause of his death.
Let him not see the rivers of oil, the streams of honey and milk.
He is forced to give back the fruit of his work, and may not take it for food; he has no joy in the profit of his trading.
Because he has been cruel to the poor, turning away from them in their trouble; because he has taken a house by force which he did not put up;
There is no peace for him in his wealth, and no salvation for him in those things in which he took delight.
He had never enough for his desire; for this cause his well-being will quickly come to an end.
Even when his wealth is great, he is full of care, for the hand of everyone who is in trouble is turned against him.
God gives him his desire, and sends the heat of his wrath on him, making it come down on him like rain.
He may go in flight from the iron spear, but the arrow from the bow of brass will go through him;
He is pulling it out, and it comes out of his back; and its shining point comes out of his side; he is overcome by fears.
All his wealth is stored up for the dark: a fire not made by man sends destruction on him, and on everything in his tent.
The heavens make clear his sin, and the earth gives witness against him.
The produce of his house is taken away into another country, like things given into the hands of others in the day of wrath.
This is the reward of the evil man, and the heritage given to him by God.