Chapter 27

  And Job again took up the word and said,  

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  By the life of God, who has taken away my right; and of the Ruler of all, who has made my soul bitter;  

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  (For all my breath is still in me, and the spirit of God is my life;)  

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  Truly, there is no deceit in my lips, and my tongue does not say what is false.  

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  Let it be far from me! I will certainly not say that you are right! I will come to death before I give up my righteousness.  

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  I will keep it safe, and will not let it go: my heart has nothing to say against any part of my life.  

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  Let my hater be like the evil man, and let him who comes against me be as the sinner.  

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  For what is the hope of the sinner when he is cut off, when God takes back his soul?  

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  Will his cry come to the ears of God when he is in trouble?  

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  Will he take delight in the Ruler of all, and make his prayer to God at all times?  

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  I will give you teaching about the hand of God; I will not keep secret from you what is in the mind of the Ruler of all.  

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  Truly, you have all seen it yourselves; why then have you become completely foolish?  

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  This is the punishment of the evil-doer from God, and the heritage given to the cruel by the Ruler of all.  

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  If his children are increased, it is for the sword; and his offspring have not enough bread.  

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  When those of his house who are still living come to their end by disease, they are not put into the earth, and their widows are not weeping for them.  

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  Though he may get silver together like dust, and make ready great stores of clothing;  

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  He may get them ready, but the upright will put them on, and he who is free from sin will take the silver for a heritage.  

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  His house has no more strength than a spider's thread, or a watchman's tent.  

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  He goes to rest full of wealth, but does so for the last time: on opening his eyes, he sees it there no longer.  

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  Fears overtake him like rushing waters; in the night the storm-wind takes him away.  

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  The east wind takes him up and he is gone; he is forced violently out of his place.  

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  God sends his arrows against him without mercy; he goes in flight before his hand.  

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  Men make signs of joy because of him, driving him from his place with sounds of hissing.  

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