1 T hen Job continued his discourse and said,

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

3 F or as long as life is in me, And the breath of God is in my nostrils,

4 M y lips certainly will not speak unjustly, Nor will my tongue mutter deceit.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

17 H e may prepare it, but the just will wear it And the innocent will divide the silver.

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

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

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

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

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

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