Job 27

1 And Job continued taking up his parable, and said,

Moreover Job continued his discourse, and said:

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

As God liveth, who hath rejected my cause, And the Almighty, who hath afflicted my soul;

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

As long as my breath is 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.

Never shall my lips speak falsehood, Nor 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.

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

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

7 Like the wicked is [therefore] my enemy, and he that riseth up against me like a wrong-doer.

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 hypocrite, when he hath gained unjust wealth, when God casteth forth his soul?

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 cometh upon him?

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

10 Or can he find delight in the Almighty? can he call on God at all times?

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

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 concerning the hand of God; That which is with the Almighty I will not conceal.

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

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

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 the wicked man from God, —The inheritance which oppressors receive from the Almighty.

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

If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword; And 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 of them that escape shall be buried by Death, And their widows shall not bewail them.

16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare garments [as plentifully] as the clay:

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

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

He may procure, but the righteous shall wear it, And the innocent shall share the silver.

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

He buildeth his house like the moth, Or like the shed which the watchman maketh.

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

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

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

Terrors pursue him like a flood; A tempest stealeth 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 carrieth him away, and he perisheth; Yea, it sweepeth him away from his place.

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

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

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

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