1 M oreover Job continued his discourse, and said:

Then Job continued his discourse and said,

2 “ As God lives, who has taken away my justice, 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 A s long as my breath is in me, And the breath of God in my nostrils,

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

4 M y lips will not speak wickedness, Nor my tongue utter deceit.

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

5 F ar be it from me That I should say you are right; Till I die I will not put away 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 M y righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; My heart shall not reproach me as 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 “ May my enemy be like the wicked, And he who rises up against me like 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 may gain much, If God takes away his life?

“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 trouble 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 on God?

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

11 “ I will teach you about the hand of God; What is with the Almighty I will not conceal.

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

12 S urely all of you have seen it; Why then do you behave with complete nonsense?

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

13 “ This is the portion of a wicked man with God, And the heritage of oppressors, received from the Almighty:

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

14 I f his children 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 who survive 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 like dust, And piles up clothing like clay—

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

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

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

18 H e builds his house like a moth, Like a booth which a watchman 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 will lie down, But not be gathered up; He opens his eyes, And he is no more.

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

20 T errors overtake him like a flood; A tempest steals him away in the night.

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

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

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

22 I t hurls against him and does not spare; He flees desperately from its power.

“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 shall hiss him out of his place.

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