Job 20:12
““Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,”
What does Job 20:12 mean?
Zophar is describing how someone who pursues evil can initially enjoy it, the way you'd savor something pleasant on your tongue. He's painting a picture of temptation at its most seductive: wrongdoing feels good in the moment, and a person might try to keep it hidden, to enjoy it privately without judgment or consequence. The verse captures that real human experience of being drawn toward something we know isn't right, precisely because it tastes good. Zophar's broader point (made across this chapter) is that this sweetness doesn't last, but here he's being honest about the initial appeal of sin, which makes his argument more powerful than if he simply said wrongdoing is obviously bad.