Job 20:5

that the elation of the wicked is brief, ¹  the joy of the godless ²  lasts but a moment. ³ 

Ex 15:9,10; Jud 16:21-30; Es 5:11,12; Es 7:10; Job 5:3; Job 8:19; Job 15:29-34; Job 18:5,6; Job 27:8; Job 27:13-23; Ps 37:35,36; Ps 73:18-20; Mt 7:21; Mt 13:20,21; Ac 12:22,23; Ga 6:4; Jas 4:16

¹ tn The expression in the text is “quite near.” This indicates that it is easily attained, and that its end is near.

² tn For the discussion of חָנֵף (khanef, “godless”) see Job 8:13.

³ tn The phrase is “until a moment,” meaning it is short-lived. But see J. Barr, “Hebrew ’ad, especially at Job 1:18 and Neh 7:3,” JSS 27 (1982): 177-88.