< Job 27 >
1 And Job continued taking up his parable, and said,
Job again took up his parable, and said,
2 As God liveth, who hath removed justice from me; and by the Almighty, who hath embittered my soul:
"As God lives, who has taken away my right, Shaddai, who has made my soul bitter.
3 All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;
(For the length of my life is still in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils);
4 Shall my lips not speak any wrong, nor shall my tongue utter deceit.
surely my lips shall not speak unrighteousness, neither shall my tongue utter deceit.
5 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.
Far be it from me that I should justify you. Until I die I will not put away my integrity from me.
6 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.
I hold fast to my righteousness, and will not let it go. My conscience will not accuse me as long as I live.
7 Like the wicked is [therefore] my enemy, and he that riseth up against me like a wrong-doer.
"Let my enemy be as the wicked. Let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous.
8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, when he hath gained unjust wealth, when God casteth forth his soul?
For what is the hope of the godless, when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?
9 Will God hear his cry, when distress cometh upon him?
Will God hear his cry when trouble comes on him?
10 Or can he find delight in the Almighty? can he call on God at all times?
Will he delight himself in Shaddai, and call on God at all times?
11 I will instruct you concerning what is in the hand of God: [the way] which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.
I will teach you about the hand of God. That which is with Shaddai will I not conceal.
12 Lo! ye yourselves have all beheld it: why is it then that ye deal in such vanities?
Look, all of you have seen it yourselves; why then have you become altogether vain?
13 This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the portion of tyrants, which they shall receive from the Almighty.
"This is the portion of a wicked man with God, the heritage of oppressors, which they receive from Shaddai.
14 If his children be multiplied, it is only for the sword; and his offspring will not be satisfied with bread.
If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword. His offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
15 Those of his that are left to escape will be buried by death; and his widows will not be able to weep.
Those who remain of him shall be buried in death. His widows shall make no lamentation.
16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare garments [as plentifully] as the clay:
Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare clothing as the clay;
17 He may prepare, but the righteous will clothe himself [therewith], and the silver the innocent will divide.
he may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.
18 He buildeth his house like the moth, and like a hut that a keeper hath made.
He builds his house as the moth, as a booth which the watchman makes.
19 Rich will he lie down, but will not be gathered [into the grave]: one openeth his eyes, and he is no more.
He lies down rich, but he shall not do so again. He opens his eyes, and it is gone.
20 Like a flood will terror overtake him, in the night a tempest will steal him away.
Terrors overtake him like waters. A storm steals him away in the night.
21 The east wind will lift him up, and he must be gone; and it hurleth him like a storm out of his place.
The east wind carries him away, and he departs. It sweeps him out of his place.
22 And [God] will cast [evil] upon him, and bare no pity: out of his hand [his wealth] will surely escape.
For it hurls at him, and does not spare, as he flees away from his hand.
23 Men will clap their hands over him, and will hiss after him out of his place.
Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.