Job 27

1 Job continued his discourse:

2 “As surely as God lives, who has deprived me of justice—the Almighty, who has embittered my soul—

3 as long as my breath is still within me and the breath of God remains in my nostrils,

4 my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will not utter deceit.

5 I will never say that you are right; I will maintain my integrity until I die.

6 I will cling to my righteousness and never let go. As long as I live, my conscience will not accuse me.

7 May my enemy be like the wicked and my opponent like the unjust.

8 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 comes upon him?

10 Will he delight in the Almighty? Will he call upon God at all times?

11 I will instruct you in the power of God. I will not conceal the ways of the Almighty.

12 Surely all of you have seen it for yourselves. Why then do you keep up this empty talk?

13 This is the wicked man’s portion from God—the heritage the ruthless receive from the Almighty.

14 Though his sons are many, they are destined for the sword; and his offspring will never have enough food.

15 His survivors will be buried by the plague, and their widows will not weep for them.

16 Though he heaps up silver like dust and piles up a wardrobe like clay,

17 what he lays up, the righteous will wear, and his silver will be divided by the innocent.

18 The house he built is like a moth’s cocoon, like a hut set up by a watchman.

19 He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more; when he opens his eyes, all is gone.

20 Terrors overtake him like a flood; a tempest sweeps him away in the night.

21 The east wind carries him away, and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place.

22 It hurls itself against him without mercy as he flees headlong from its power.

23 It claps its hands at him and hisses him out of his place.

1 ¶ Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,

2 [As] God liveth, [who] hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, [who] hath vexed my soul;

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

4 My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.

5 God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.

6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach [me] so long as I live.

7 ¶ Let 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, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?

9 Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?

10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?

11 ¶ I will teach you by the hand of God: [that] which [is] with the Almighty will I not conceal.

12 Behold, all ye yourselves have seen [it]; why then are ye thus altogether vain?

13 This [is] the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, [which] they shall receive of the Almighty.

14 If his children be multiplied, [it is] for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.

15 Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.

16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;

17 He may prepare [it], but the just shall put [it] on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.

18 He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth [that] the keeper maketh.

19 The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he [is] not.

20 Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.

21 The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.

22 For [God] shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.

23 [Men] shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.

1 And Job continued, and began his sayings, and said:

2 As God liveth, who hath not let my right go, and the Almighty, who hath afflicted my soul,

3 As long as my breath is in me, and the snorting of GOD is in my nostrils:

4 My lips shall speak no unrighteousness, and my tongue shall speak no deceit.

5 Far be it from me to justify you: until my end come, I will not depart from my godliness.

6 Of my righteousness which I have I will not depart: my conscience doth not bite me for all my life.

7 But mine enemy shall be found ungodly, and he that rebels against me unrighteous.

8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, that he should be so stingy, and yet God should take away his soul?

9 do you think that GOD will hear his cry when fear comes upon him?

10 How can he delight in the Almighty, and call upon God?

11 I will teach you of the hand of GOD: and that which is with the Almighty I will not hide.

12 Behold, ye all think yourselves wise. Why then do ye pretend to such useless things?

13 This is the reward of a godless man with GOD, and the inheritance of tyrants, which they will take from the Almighty:

14 If he have many children, they shall be of the sword: and his seed shall not be full of bread.

15 His remnant shall be buried in death, and his widows shall not weep.

16 When he gathereth together money like earth, and gathereth together garments like glue,

17 He shall well prepare it: but the righteous shall put it on, and the innocent shall give out the money.

18 He buildeth his house like a spider, and maketh a shower like a keeper.

19 The rich man, when he lieth down, shall not carry it away: he shall open his eyes, and there shall be nothing.

20 Terrors shall overtake him as the waters: in the night the tempest shall take him away.

21 The east wind shall carry him away, and he shall go adrift: and the violence shall drive him out of his place.

22 He shall bring these things upon him, and shall not spare him: all things shall pass out of his hand.

23 They shall clap their hands over him, and hiss over him, because he hath been.