Job 27
1 Job continued his discourse:
And Job continued taking 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 removed justice from me; and by the Almighty, who hath embittered 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 God is in my nostrils;
4 my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will not utter deceit.
Shall my lips not speak any wrong, nor 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 depart hence will I not allow [any one] to take my integrity away from me.
6 I will cling to my righteousness and never let go. As long as I live, my conscience will not accuse me.
I have laid fast hold on my righteousness, and I will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me [for my conduct] during all my life.
7 May my enemy be like the wicked and my opponent like the unjust.
Like the wicked is [therefore] my enemy, and he that riseth up against me like a wrong-doer.
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, when he hath gained unjust wealth, when God casteth forth his soul?
9 Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him?
Will God hear his cry, when distress cometh upon him?
10 Will he delight in the Almighty? Will he call upon God at all times?
Or can he find delight in the Almighty? can he 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.
I will instruct you concerning what is in the hand of God: [the way] 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?
Lo! ye yourselves have all beheld it: why is it then that ye deal in such vanities?
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 portion of tyrants, which they shall 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 only for the sword; and 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.
Those of his that are left to escape will be buried by death; and his widows will not be able to 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 garments [as plentifully] as the clay:
17 what he lays up, the righteous will wear, and his silver will be divided by the innocent.
He may prepare, but the righteous will clothe himself [therewith], and the silver the innocent will divide.
18 The house he built is like a moth’s cocoon, like a hut set up by a watchman.
He buildeth his house like the moth, and like a hut that a keeper hath made.
19 He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more; when he opens his eyes, all is gone.
Rich will he lie down, but will not be gathered [into the grave]: one openeth his eyes, and he is no more.
20 Terrors overtake him like a flood; a tempest sweeps him away in the night.
Like a flood will terror overtake him, in the night a tempest will steal him away.
21 The east wind carries him away, and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place.
The east wind will lift him up, and he must be gone; and it hurleth him like a storm out of his place.
22 It hurls itself against him without mercy as he flees headlong from its power.
And [God] will cast [evil] upon him, and bare no pity: out of his hand [his wealth] will surely escape.
23 It claps its hands at him and hisses him out of his place.
Men will clap their hands over him, and will hiss after him out of his place.
