Job 27

1 And Job again took up the word and said,

And Job continued taking up his parable, and said,

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 God liveth, who hath removed justice from me; and by the Almighty, who hath embittered my soul:

3 (For all my breath is still in me, and the spirit of God is my life; )

All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;

4 Truly, there is no deceit in my lips, and my tongue does not say what is false.

Shall my lips not speak any wrong, nor shall my tongue 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.

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 keep it safe, and will not let it go: my heart has nothing to say against any part of my life.

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 Let my hater be like the evil man, and let him who comes against me be as the sinner.

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 sinner when he is cut off, when God takes back his soul?

For what is the hope of the hypocrite, when he hath gained unjust wealth, when God casteth forth his soul?

9 Will his cry come to the ears of God when he is in trouble?

Will God hear his cry, when distress cometh upon him?

10 Will he take delight in the Ruler of all, and make his prayer to God at all times?

Or can he find delight in the Almighty? can he call on 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 concerning what is in the hand of God: [the way] which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

12 Truly, you have all seen it yourselves; why then have you become completely foolish?

Lo! ye yourselves have all beheld it: why is it then that ye deal in such vanities?

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 portion of a wicked man with God, and the portion of tyrants, which they shall receive from the Almighty.

14 If his children are increased, it is for the sword; and his offspring have not enough bread.

If his children be multiplied, it is only for the sword; and his offspring will not be satisfied with bread.

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.

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 may get silver together like dust, and make ready great stores of clothing;

Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare garments [as plentifully] as the 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.

He may prepare, but the righteous will clothe himself [therewith], and the silver the innocent will divide.

18 His house has no more strength than a spider's thread, or a watchman's tent.

He buildeth his house like the moth, and like a hut that a keeper hath made.

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.

Rich will he lie down, but will not be gathered [into the grave]: one openeth his eyes, and he is no more.

20 Fears overtake him like rushing waters; in the night the storm-wind takes him away.

Like a flood will terror overtake him, in the night a tempest will steal him away.

21 The east wind takes him up and he is gone; he is forced violently 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 God sends his arrows against him without mercy; he goes in flight before his hand.

And [God] will cast [evil] upon him, and bare no pity: out of his hand [his wealth] will surely escape.

23 Men make signs of joy because of him, driving him from his place with sounds of hissing.

Men will clap their hands over him, and will hiss after him out of his place.