Job 27
1 Job continued his discourse:
And Job again took up his measure, 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, even 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 inspiration 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.
Verily my lips shall not speak perversity, 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, —Even until I breathe my last, will I not let go 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.
On my righteousness, have I taken fast hold, and will not give it up, My heart shall not reproach any of my days.
7 May my enemy be like the wicked and my opponent like the unjust.
Let mine enemy be a veritably lawless one! And, he that lifteth himself up against me, one veritably perverse!
8 For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?
For what shall be the hope of the impious, though he graspeth with greed, when GOD shall draw forth his soul?
9 Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him?
His outcry, will GOD hear, when there cometh upon him distress?
10 Will he delight in the Almighty? Will he call upon God at all times?
Verily, in the Almighty, he will not find delight, nor call on GOD continually!
11 I will instruct you in the power of God. I will not conceal the ways of the Almighty.
I would teach you, by 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?
Lo! ye, have, all of you, seen, Wherefore, then, is it, that ye are utterly without purpose?
13 This is the wicked man’s portion from God— the heritage the ruthless receive from the Almighty.
This, is the portion of a lawless man with GOD, That, the heritage of tyrants—from the Almighty, he shall receive.
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, for them, [there is] the sword, and, his offspring, shall not be filled with bread;
15 His survivors will be buried by the plague, and their widows will not weep for them.
His survivors, by pestilence, shall come to the grave, 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 like, dust, and, like a pile, he prepare clothing,
17 what he lays up, the righteous will wear, and his silver will be divided by the innocent.
He may prepare, but, the righteous, shall put on, and, the silver, shall the innocent apportion.
18 The house he built is like a moth’s cocoon, like a hut set up by a watchman.
He hath built, like a moth, his house, —like a hut, which a watcher hath made.
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, and not do it again, his eyes, hath he opened, and then is not.
20 Terrors overtake him like a flood; a tempest sweeps him away in the night.
There shall reach him—like waters—terrors, By night, a storm-wind hath stolen him away;
21 The east wind carries him away, and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place.
An east wind shall lift him up, and he shall depart, and it shall sweep him away out of his place;
22 It hurls itself against him without mercy as he flees headlong from its power.
And He will cast upon him and not spare, Out of his hand, shall he, swiftly flee;
23 It claps its hands at him and hisses him out of his place.
He shall clap over him his hands, and shall hiss him forth out of his place.
