Job 27

1 Job continued his discourse:

Moreover Job continued his discourse, 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 rejected my cause, And the Almighty, who hath afflicted my soul;

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

As long as 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.

Never shall my lips speak falsehood, Nor my tongue utter deceit.

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

God forbid that I should acknowledge you to be just: To my last breath will I assert my integrity.

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

I will hold fast my innocence, and not let it go; My heart reproacheth me for no part of my life.

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

May 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 wicked, when God cutteth off his web, And taketh away his life?

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

Will he listen to his cry, When trouble cometh upon him?

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

Can he delight himself in the Almighty, And call at all times upon God?

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 I will not conceal.

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

Behold, ye yourselves have all seen it; Why then do ye cherish such vain thoughts?

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

This is the portion of the wicked man from God, —The inheritance which oppressors 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 be satisfied with bread.

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

Those of them that escape shall be buried by Death, And their widows shall not bewail them.

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

Though he heap up silver as dust, And procure raiment as clay, —

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

He may procure, but the righteous shall wear it, And the innocent shall share 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 like the moth, Or like the shed which the watchman maketh.

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

The rich man lieth down, and is not buried; In the twinkling of an eye he is no more.

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

Terrors pursue him like a flood; 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 perisheth; Yea, it sweepeth him away from his place.

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

God sendeth his arrows at him, and doth not spare; He would fain escape from His hand.

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

Men clap their hands at him, And hiss him away from his place.