Chapter 27

  Job again took up his parable, and said,  

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  'As God lives, who has taken away my right, The Almighty, who has made my soul bitter.  

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  (For the length of my life is still in me, And the spirit of God is in my nostrils);  

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  Surely my lips shall not speak unrighteousness, Neither shall my tongue utter deceit.  

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

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

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  'Let my enemy be as the wicked, Let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous.  

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

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  Will God hear his cry, When trouble comes on him?  

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

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

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  Behold, all of you have seen it yourselves; Why then have you become altogether vain?  

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  'This is the portion of a wicked man with God, The heritage of oppressors, which they receive from the Almighty.  

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

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

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

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  He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, And the innocent shall divide the silver.  

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

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

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  Terrors overtake him like waters; A tempest steals him away in the night.  

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

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

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  Men shall clap their hands at him, And shall hiss him out of his place.  

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