Job 27

1 Job continued his discourse, saying:

2 As God lives, who has deprived me of justice,  * 27:2 Jb 19:6; 34:5

and the Almighty who has made me bitter,  * 27:2 Ex 1:14; Ru 1:20; Jb 3:20

3 as long as my breath is still in me

and the breath from God remains in my nostrils,  * 27:3 Gn 2:7; Jb 12:10; 33:4

4 my lips will not speak unjustly,

and my tongue will not utter deceit.

5 I will never affirm that you are right.

I will maintain my integrity  * 27:5 Lit will not remove my integrity from me,* 27:5 Jb 2:3,9; 31:6; Pr 11:3 until I die.

6 I will cling to my righteousness and never let it go.

My conscience  * 27:6 Ac 24:16; 1Co 4:4; Rv 9:11 will not accuse me as long as I live!

7 May my enemy be like the wicked

and my opponent like the unjust.

8 For what hope does the godless person  * 27:8 Jb 17:8; 20:5; 36:13  have when he is cut off,

when God takes away his life?  * 27:8 Jb 8:13; Mt 16:26; Lk 12:20

9 Will God hear his cry

when distress comes on him?

10 Will he delight  * 27:10 Jb 22:26; Ps 37:4; Is 55:2 in the Almighty?

Will he call on God at all times?

11 I will teach you about God’s power.

I will not conceal what the Almighty has planned.  * 27:11 Lit what is with the Almighty

12 All of you have seen this for yourselves,

why do you keep up this empty talk?  * 27:12 Jb 2:10; 15:2

13 This is a wicked man’s lot  * 27:13 Jb 20:29; 31:2; Ps 17:14 from God,

the inheritance the ruthless receive from the Almighty.

14 Even if his children increase, they are destined for the sword;

his descendants will never have enough food.

15 Those who survive him will be buried by the plague,

yet their widows will not weep for them.  * 27:15 Jb 18:19; Ps 78:64; Jr 22:10

16 Though he piles up silver like dust

and heaps up fine clothing like clay —

17 he may heap it up, but the righteous will wear it,

and the innocent will divide up his silver.  * 27:17 Pr 13:22; 28:8; Ec 2:26

18 The house he built is like a moth’s cocoon

or a shelter set up by a watchman.  * 27:18 Jb 4:19; Is 1:8; Jnh 4:5

19 He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more;

when he opens his eyes, it is gone.

20 Terrors overtake him like a flood;  * 27:20 Jb 18:11; 20:25; Jr 6:25

a storm  * 27:20 Jb 21:18; Ps 83:15; Is 29:6 wind sweeps him away at night.

21 An east wind picks him up, and he is gone;

it carries him away from his place.

22 It blasts at him without mercy,

while he flees desperately from its force.

23 It claps  * 27:23 Nm 24:10; Jb 34:37; Lm 2:15 its hands at him

and scoffs at him from its place.