Job 27
1Job continued his discourse, saying:2
3As God lives, who has deprived me of justice, and the Almighty who has made me bitter,4
5as long as my breath is still in me and the breath from God remains in my nostrils,6
7my lips will not speak unjustly, and my tongue will not utter deceit.8
9I will never affirm that you are right. I will maintain my integrity until I die.10
11I will cling to my righteousness and never let it go. My conscience will not accuse me as long as I live!12
13May my enemy be like the wicked and my opponent like the unjust.14
15For what hope does the godless person have when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?16
17Will God hear his cry when distress comes on him?18
19Will he delight in the Almighty? Will he call on God at all times?20
21I will teach you about God’s power. I will not conceal what the Almighty has planned.22
23All of you have seen this for yourselves, why do you keep up this empty talk?24
25This is a wicked man’s lot from God, the inheritance the ruthless receive from the Almighty.26
27Even if his children increase, they are destined for the sword; his descendants will never have enough food.28
29Those who survive him will be buried by the plague, yet their widows will not weep for them.30
31Though he piles up silver like dust and heaps up fine clothing like clay —32
33he may heap it up, but the righteous will wear it, and the innocent will divide up his silver.34
35The house he built is like a moth’s cocoon or a shelter set up by a watchman.36
37He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more; when he opens his eyes, it is gone.38
39Terrors overtake him like a flood; a storm wind sweeps him away at night.40
41An east wind picks him up, and he is gone; it carries him away from his place.42
43It blasts at him without mercy, while he flees desperately from its force.44
45It claps its hands at him and scoffs at him from its place.46
3As God lives, who has deprived me of justice, and the Almighty who has made me bitter,4
5as long as my breath is still in me and the breath from God remains in my nostrils,6
7my lips will not speak unjustly, and my tongue will not utter deceit.8
9I will never affirm that you are right. I will maintain my integrity until I die.10
11I will cling to my righteousness and never let it go. My conscience will not accuse me as long as I live!12
13May my enemy be like the wicked and my opponent like the unjust.14
15For what hope does the godless person have when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?16
17Will God hear his cry when distress comes on him?18
19Will he delight in the Almighty? Will he call on God at all times?20
21I will teach you about God’s power. I will not conceal what the Almighty has planned.22
23All of you have seen this for yourselves, why do you keep up this empty talk?24
25This is a wicked man’s lot from God, the inheritance the ruthless receive from the Almighty.26
27Even if his children increase, they are destined for the sword; his descendants will never have enough food.28
29Those who survive him will be buried by the plague, yet their widows will not weep for them.30
31Though he piles up silver like dust and heaps up fine clothing like clay —32
33he may heap it up, but the righteous will wear it, and the innocent will divide up his silver.34
35The house he built is like a moth’s cocoon or a shelter set up by a watchman.36
37He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more; when he opens his eyes, it is gone.38
39Terrors overtake him like a flood; a storm wind sweeps him away at night.40
41An east wind picks him up, and he is gone; it carries him away from his place.42
43It blasts at him without mercy, while he flees desperately from its force.44
45It claps its hands at him and scoffs at him from its place.46