Job 27

Job Maintains His Integrity

1 Moreover Job continued his discourse, and said:

2 "As God lives, *Job 34:5who has taken away my justice,

And the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter,

3 As long as my breath is in me,

And the breath of God in my nostrils,

4 My lips will not speak wickedness,

Nor my tongue utter deceit.

5 Far be it from me

That I should say you are right;

Till I die *Job 2:9; 13:15I will not put away my integrity from me.

6 My righteousness I *Job 2:3; 33:9hold fast, and will not let it go;

*Acts 24:16My heart shall not reproach me as long as I live.

7 "May my enemy be like the wicked,

And he who rises up against me like the unrighteous.

8 *Matt. 16:26; Luke 12:20For what is the hope of the hypocrite,

Though he may gain much,

If God takes away his life?

9 *Job 35:12, 13; Ps. 18:41; Prov. 1:28; 28:9; (Is. 1:15); Jer. 14:12; Ezek. 8:18; (Mic. 3:4; John 9:31; James 4:3)Will God hear his cry

When trouble comes upon him?

10 *Job 22:26, 27; (Ps. 37:4; Is. 58:14)Will he delight himself in the Almighty?

Will he always call on God?

11 "I will teach you about the hand of God;

What is with the Almighty I will not conceal.

12 Surely all of you have seen it;

Why then do you behave with complete nonsense?

13 "This*Job 20:29 is the portion of a wicked man with God,

And the heritage of oppressors, received from the Almighty:

14 *Deut. 28:41; Esth. 9:10; Hos. 9:13If his children are multiplied, itis for the sword;

And his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.

15 Those who survive him shall be buried in death,

And *Ps. 78:64their widows shall not weep,

16 Though he heaps up silver like dust,

And piles up clothing like clay—

17 He may pile it up, but *Prov. 28:8; (Eccl. 2:26)the just will wear it,

And the innocent will divide the silver.

18 He builds his house like a moth,

*Is. 1:8; Lam. 2:6Like a booth which a watchman makes.

19 The rich man will lie down,

But not be gathered up;

He opens his eyes,

And he is*Job 7:8, 21; 20:7no more.

20 *Job 18:11Terrors overtake him like a flood;

A tempest steals 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 against him and does not *Jer. 13:14; Ezek. 5:11; 24:14spare;

He flees desperately from its power.

23 Men shall clap their hands at him,

And shall hiss him out of his place.