1 J ob kept on speaking, and said,

2 “ As God lives, Who has taken away my right, and the All-powerful, Who has troubled my soul,

3 a s long as life is in me, and the breath of God is in my nose,

4 m y lips will not speak what is not true, and my tongue will not lie.

5 F ar be it from me to say that you are right. Until I die I will not put away my honor.

6 I hold on to what is right and good and will not let it go. My heart does not put me to shame for any of my days.

7 “ May the one who hates me be as the sinful. And may the one who is against me be as those who are not right and good.

8 F or what is the hope of the man without God when he dies, when God takes away his life?

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

10 W ill he be glad in the All-powerful? Will he call on God at all times?

11 I will teach you about the power of God. I will not hide the ways of the All-powerful.

12 A ll of you have seen it yourselves. Why then do you speak in a foolish way?

13 “ This is what God gives to a sinful man, the gift that a man who makes it hard for others receives from the All-powerful.

14 I f he has many sons, they will be killed by the sword. And his children will not have enough bread to eat.

15 T hose who are left to him will be buried because of disease. And the wives who have lost their husbands will not be able to cry.

16 H e may gather up silver like dust, and gather so much clothing as if they were clay.

17 H e may have it, but those who are right with God will wear it. And those who are without guilt will divide the silver.

18 H e builds his house like the home of a spider, or like a tent which a watchman has made.

19 H e goes to bed rich, but will never again. When he opens his eyes, his riches are gone.

20 F ears come over him like a flood. A storm carries him away in the night.

21 T he east wind carries him away, and he is gone. It carries him away from his place.

22 I t comes at him without pity. He tries to run from its power as fast as he can.

23 M en clap their hands at him, and drive him from his place with sounds of shame.