1 ¶ Moreover, Job continued his parable and said,

Then Job continued his discourse and said,

2 A s God lives, who has taken away my rights; and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter,

“As God lives, who has taken away my right, And the Almighty, who has embittered my soul,

3 t hat all the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils,

For as long as life is in me, And the breath of God is in my nostrils,

4 m y lips shall not speak iniquity, nor my tongue utter deceit.

My lips certainly will not speak unjustly, Nor will my tongue mutter deceit.

5 I n no wise should I justify you; until I die I will not remove my integrity from me.

“Far be it from me that I should declare you right; Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.

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

“I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go. My heart does not reproach any of my days. The State of the Godless

7 ¶ Let my enemy be as the wicked and my adversary as the unrighteous.

“May my enemy be as the wicked And my opponent as the unjust.

8 F or what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he has stolen much, when God takes away his soul?

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

9 W ill God hear his cry when the tribulation comes upon him?

“Will God hear his cry When distress comes upon him?

10 W ill he delight himself in the Almighty? Will he always call upon God?

“Will he take delight in the Almighty? Will he call on God at all times?

11 ¶ I will teach you what there is in the hand of God; I will not conceal that which is regarding the Almighty.

“I will instruct you in the power of God; What is with the Almighty I will not conceal.

12 B ehold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye so completely vain?

“Behold, all of you have seen it; Why then do you act foolishly?

13 T his is the portion of a wicked man with God and the heritage of the violent, which they shall receive of the Almighty.

“This is the portion of a wicked man from God, And the inheritance which tyrants receive from the Almighty.

14 I f their sons are multiplied, it is for the sword; and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.

“Though his sons are many, they are destined for the sword; And his descendants will not be satisfied with bread.

15 T hose that remain of him shall be buried in death; and their widows shall not weep.

“His survivors will be buried because of the plague, And their widows will not be able to weep.

16 T hough he heaps up silver as the dust and prepares raiment as the clay,

“Though he piles up silver like dust And prepares garments as plentiful as the clay,

17 h e may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.

He may prepare it, but the just will wear it And the innocent will divide the silver.

18 H e built his house as a moth and as a booth that the keeper makes.

“He has built his house like the spider’s web, Or as a hut which the watchman has made.

19 T he rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered; he shall open his eyes and not see anyone.

“He lies down rich, but never again; He opens his eyes, and it is no longer.

20 T errors shall take hold on him as waters; a whirlwind shall carry him away in the night.

“ Terrors overtake him like a flood; A tempest steals him away in the night.

21 T he east wind shall take him away, and he shall depart; the storm shall catch him up out of his place.

“The east wind carries him away, and he is gone, For it whirls him away from his place.

22 F or God shall cast down on him and not spare; he would attempt to flee out of his hand.

“For it will hurl at him without sparing; He will surely try to flee from its power.

23 M en shall clap their hands at him, and from his place they shall hiss at him.

“ Men will clap their hands at him And will hiss him from his place.