Job 27
Job Continues: I Will Maintain My Integrity
[1] And Job again took up his discourse, and said:
[2] “As God lives, who has taken away my right,
and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter,
[3] as long as my breath is in me,
and the spirit of God is in my nostrils,
[4] my lips will not speak falsehood,
and my tongue will not utter deceit.
[5] Far be it from me to say that you are right;
till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.
[6] I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go;
my heart does not reproach me for any of my days.
[7] “Let my enemy be as the wicked,
and let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous.
[8] For what is the hope of the godless when God cuts him off,
when God takes away his life?
[9] Will God hear his cry
when distress comes upon him?
[10] Will he take delight in the Almighty?
Will he call upon God at all times?
[11] I will teach you concerning the hand of God;
what is with the Almighty I will not conceal.
[12] Behold, all of you have seen it yourselves;
why then have you become altogether vain?
[13] “This is the portion of a wicked man with God,
and the heritage that oppressors receive from the Almighty:
[14] If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword,
and his descendants have not enough bread.
[15] Those who survive him the pestilence buries,
and his widows do not weep.
[16] Though he heap up silver like dust,
and pile up clothing like clay,
[17] he may pile it up, but the righteous will wear it,
and the innocent will divide the silver.
[18] He builds his house like a moth’s,
like a booth that a watchman makes.
[19] He goes to bed rich, but will do so no more;
he opens his eyes, and his wealth is gone.
[20] Terrors overtake him like a flood;
in the night a whirlwind carries him off.
[21] The east wind lifts him up and he is gone;
it sweeps him out of his place.
[22] It hurls at him without pity;
he flees from its power in headlong flight.
[23] It claps its hands at him
and hisses at him from its place. (ESV)
