Job 27

1 Job continued his discourse:

1 Job again took up his parable, and said,

2 “As surely as God lives, who has deprived me of justice—the Almighty, who has embittered my soul—

2 “As God lives, who has taken away my right, the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter

3 as long as my breath is still within me and the breath of God remains in my nostrils,

3 (for the length of my life is still in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils);

4 my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will not utter deceit.

4 surely my lips will not speak unrighteousness, neither will my tongue utter deceit.

5 I will never say that you are right; I will maintain my integrity until I die.

5 Far be it from me that I should justify you. Until I die I will not put away my integrity from me.

6 I will cling to my righteousness and never let go. As long as I live, my conscience will not accuse me.

6 I hold fast to my righteousness, and will not let it go. My heart will not reproach me so long as I live.

7 May my enemy be like the wicked and my opponent like the unjust.

7 “Let my enemy be as the wicked. Let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous.

8 For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?

8 For what is the hope of the godless, when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?

9 Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him?

9 Will God hear his cry when trouble comes on him?

10 Will he delight in the Almighty? Will he call upon God at all times?

10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty, and call on God at all times?

11 I will instruct you in the power of God. I will not conceal the ways of the Almighty.

11 I will teach you about the hand of God. I will not conceal that which is with the Almighty.

12 Surely all of you have seen it for yourselves. Why then do you keep up this empty talk?

12 Behold, all of you have seen it yourselves; why then have you become altogether vain?

13 This is the wicked man’s portion from God—the heritage the ruthless receive from the Almighty.

13 “This is the portion of a wicked man with God, the heritage of oppressors, which they receive from the Almighty.

14 Though his sons are many, they are destined for the sword; and his offspring will never have enough food.

14 If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword. His offspring will not be satisfied with bread.

15 His survivors will be buried by the plague, and their widows will not weep for them.

15 Those who remain of him will be buried in death. His widows will make no lamentation.

16 Though he heaps up silver like dust and piles up a wardrobe like clay,

16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare clothing as the clay;

17 what he lays up, the righteous will wear, and his silver will be divided by the innocent.

17 he may prepare it, but the just will put it on, and the innocent will divide the silver.

18 The house he built is like a moth’s cocoon, like a hut set up by a watchman.

18 He builds his house as the moth, as a booth which the watchman makes.

19 He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more; when he opens his eyes, all is gone.

19 He lies down rich, but he will not do so again. He opens his eyes, and he is not.

20 Terrors overtake him like a flood; a tempest sweeps him away in the night.

20 Terrors overtake him like waters. A storm steals him away in the night.

21 The east wind carries him away, and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place.

21 The east wind carries him away, and he departs. It sweeps him out of his place.

22 It hurls itself against him without mercy as he flees headlong from its power.

22 For it hurls at him, and does not spare, as he flees away from his hand.

23 It claps its hands at him and hisses him out of his place.

23 Men will clap their hands at him, and will hiss him out of his place.