Job 27

1 Job continued his discourse:

Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,

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

As El liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;

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 Eloah is in my nostrils;

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

My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.

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

Elohim forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove 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 he that riseth up against me 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 hypocrite, though he hath gained, when Eloah taketh away his soul?

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

Will El 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 delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon Eloah?

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

I will teach you by the hand of El: 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 thus 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 El, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of 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 be satisfied with bread.

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 in death: and his widows shall not weep.

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 that the keeper maketh.

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

The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not.

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

Terrors take hold on him as 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 as a storm hurleth him out of his place.

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

For Elohim shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.

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.