Add parallel Print Page Options

27 And Job continued his parable and said,

[As] God liveth, who hath taken away my right, and the Almighty, who hath embittered my soul,

All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of +God is in my nostrils,

My lips shall not speak unrighteousness, nor my tongue utter deceit!

Be it far from me that I should justify you; till I die I will not remove my blamelessness from me.

My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart reproacheth [me] not one of my days.

Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.

For what is the hope of the ungodly, when [God] cutteth him off, when +God taketh away his soul?

Will God hear his cry when distress cometh upon him?

10 Doth he delight himself in the Almighty? will he at all times call upon +God?

11 I will teach you concerning the hand of God; what is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

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

13 This is the portion of the wicked man with God, and the heritage of the violent, which they receive from 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 by death, and his widows shall not weep.

16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare clothing 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 the moth, and as a booth that a keeper maketh.

19 He lieth down rich, but will do so no more; he openeth his eyes, and he is not.

20 Terrors overtake him like waters; a whirlwind stealeth him away in the night.

21 The east wind carrieth him away and he is gone; and as a storm it hurleth him out of his place.

22 And [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.

Job’s Final Word to His Friends

27 And Job continued his discourse:(A)

“As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice,(B)
    the Almighty,(C) who has made my life bitter,(D)
as long as I have life within me,
    the breath of God(E) in my nostrils,
my lips will not say anything wicked,
    and my tongue will not utter lies.(F)
I will never admit you are in the right;
    till I die, I will not deny my integrity.(G)
I will maintain my innocence(H) and never let go of it;
    my conscience(I) will not reproach me as long as I live.(J)

“May my enemy be like the wicked,(K)
    my adversary(L) like the unjust!
For what hope have the godless(M) when they are cut off,
    when God takes away their life?(N)
Does God listen to their cry
    when distress comes upon them?(O)
10 Will they find delight in the Almighty?(P)
    Will they call on God at all times?

11 “I will teach you about the power of God;
    the ways(Q) of the Almighty I will not conceal.(R)
12 You have all seen this yourselves.
    Why then this meaningless talk?

13 “Here is the fate God allots to the wicked,
    the heritage a ruthless man receives from the Almighty:(S)
14 However many his children,(T) their fate is the sword;(U)
    his offspring will never have enough to eat.(V)
15 The plague will bury those who survive him,
    and their widows will not weep for them.(W)
16 Though he heaps up silver like dust(X)
    and clothes like piles of clay,(Y)
17 what he lays up(Z) the righteous will wear,(AA)
    and the innocent will divide his silver.(AB)
18 The house(AC) he builds is like a moth’s cocoon,(AD)
    like a hut(AE) made by a watchman.
19 He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more;(AF)
    when he opens his eyes, all is gone.(AG)
20 Terrors(AH) overtake him like a flood;(AI)
    a tempest snatches him away in the night.(AJ)
21 The east wind(AK) carries him off, and he is gone;(AL)
    it sweeps him out of his place.(AM)
22 It hurls itself against him without mercy(AN)
    as he flees headlong(AO) from its power.(AP)
23 It claps its hands(AQ) in derision
    and hisses him out of his place.”(AR)