Job 27

1 Job continued his discourse:

And 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—

As God liveth, who hath taken away my right; and the Almighty, who hath dealt bitterly with me;

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

All the while my breath is 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.

Surely my lips shall not speak unrighteousness, neither shall my tongue utter deceit;

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

Far be it from me that I should justify you; till I die I will not put away mine 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.

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

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

Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and let him that riseth 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?

For what is the hope of the godless, though he get him gain, when God taketh away his soul?

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

Will God hear his cry, when trouble cometh upon him?

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

Will he have his delight in the Almighty, and call upon God at all times?

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

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

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

Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye become altogether vain?

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

This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and 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.

If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword; and his offspring shall not have bread enough.

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

Those that remain of him shall be buried by pestilence, and his widows shall make no lamentation.

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

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

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

He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.

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

He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth which the keeper maketh.

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

He lieth down rich, but there shall be not to gather; he openeth his eyes, and his wealth is not.

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

Terrors overtake him like waters; a tempest stealeth him away in the night.

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

The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth; and it sweepeth him out of his place.

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

Yea, it hurleth at him, and spareth not; he would fain flee from its power.

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

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