Job

1Job again took up his parable, and said,

2“As God lives, who has taken away my right,the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter

3(for the length of my life is still in me,and the spirit of God is in my nostrils);

4surely my lips will not speak unrighteousness,neither will my tongue utter deceit.

5Far be it from me that I should justify you.Until I die I will not put away my integrity from me.

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

7“Let my enemy be as the wicked.Let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous.

8For what is the hope of the godless, when he is cut off,when God takes away his life?

9Will God hear his cry when trouble comes on him?

10Will he delight himself in the Almighty,and call on God at all times?

11I will teach you about the hand of God.I will not conceal that which is with the Almighty.

12Behold, 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,the heritage of oppressors, which they receive from the Almighty.

14If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword.His offspring will not be satisfied with bread.

15Those who remain of him will be buried in death.His widows will make no lamentation.

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

17he may prepare it, but the just will put it on,and the innocent will divide the silver.

18He builds his house as the moth,as a booth which the watchman makes.

19He lies down rich, but he will not do so again.He opens his eyes, and he is not.

20Terrors overtake him like waters.A storm steals him away in the night.

21The east wind carries him away, and he departs.It sweeps him out of his place.

22For it hurls at him, and does not spare,as he flees away from his hand.

23Men will clap their hands at him,and will hiss him out of his place.

Job Affirms His Integrity

1Job continued his discourse:

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

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

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

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

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

The Wicked Man’s Portion

7May my enemy be like the wickedand my opponent like the unjust.

8For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off,when God takes away his life?

9Will God hear his crywhen distress comes upon him?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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