Job 27
1 And Job again took up the word and said,
Job continued his discourse:
2 By the life of God, who has taken away my right; and of the Ruler of all, who has made my soul bitter;
“As surely as God lives, who has deprived me of justice— the Almighty, who has embittered my soul—
3 (For all my breath is still in me, and the spirit of God is my life; )
as long as my breath is still within me and the breath of God remains in my nostrils,
4 Truly, there is no deceit in my lips, and my tongue does not say what is false.
my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will not utter deceit.
5 Let it be far from me! I will certainly not say that you are right! I will come to death before I give up my righteousness.
I will never say that you are right; I will maintain my integrity until I die.
6 I will keep it safe, and will not let it go: my heart has nothing to say against any part of my life.
I will cling to my righteousness and never let go. As long as I live, my conscience will not accuse me.
7 Let my hater be like the evil man, and let him who comes against me be as the sinner.
May my enemy be like the wicked and my opponent like the unjust.
8 For what is the hope of the sinner when he is cut off, when God takes back his soul?
For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?
9 Will his cry come to the ears of God when he is in trouble?
Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him?
10 Will he take delight in the Ruler of all, and make his prayer to God at all times?
Will he delight in the Almighty? Will he call upon God at all times?
11 I will give you teaching about the hand of God; I will not keep secret from you what is in the mind of the Ruler of all.
I will instruct you in the power of God. I will not conceal the ways of the Almighty.
12 Truly, you have all seen it yourselves; why then have you become completely foolish?
Surely all of you have seen it for yourselves. Why then do you keep up this empty talk?
13 This is the punishment of the evil-doer from God, and the heritage given to the cruel by the Ruler of all.
This is the wicked man’s portion from God— the heritage the ruthless receive from the Almighty.
14 If his children are increased, it is for the sword; and his offspring have not enough bread.
Though his sons are many, they are destined for the sword; and his offspring will never have enough food.
15 When those of his house who are still living come to their end by disease, they are not put into the earth, and their widows are not weeping for them.
His survivors will be buried by the plague, and their widows will not weep for them.
16 Though he may get silver together like dust, and make ready great stores of clothing;
Though he heaps up silver like dust and piles up a wardrobe like clay,
17 He may get them ready, but the upright will put them on, and he who is free from sin will take the silver for a heritage.
what he lays up, the righteous will wear, and his silver will be divided by the innocent.
18 His house has no more strength than a spider's thread, or a watchman's tent.
The house he built is like a moth’s cocoon, like a hut set up by a watchman.
19 He goes to rest full of wealth, but does so for the last time: on opening his eyes, he sees it there no longer.
He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more; when he opens his eyes, all is gone.
20 Fears overtake him like rushing waters; in the night the storm-wind takes him away.
Terrors overtake him like a flood; a tempest sweeps him away in the night.
21 The east wind takes him up and he is gone; he is forced violently out of his place.
The east wind carries him away, and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place.
22 God sends his arrows against him without mercy; he goes in flight before his hand.
It hurls itself against him without mercy as he flees headlong from its power.
23 Men make signs of joy because of him, driving him from his place with sounds of hissing.
It claps its hands at him and hisses him out of his place.
