1 J ob again took up his parable, and said,

Then Job continued his discourse and said,

2 “ As God lives, who has taken away my right, 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 ( For the length of my life is still 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 s urely my lips shall not speak unrighteousness, neither shall 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 justify you. Until 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 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. Let him who rises up against me be 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 godless, when he is cut off, when 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 on him?

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

10 W ill he delight himself in the Almighty, and call on God at all times?

“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. That which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

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

12 B ehold, all of you have seen it yourselves; why then have you become altogether vain?

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

13 “ This is the portion of a wicked man with God, the heritage of oppressors, which they receive 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. 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 remain of him shall be buried in death. His widows shall make no lamentation.

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

16 T hough he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare clothing 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 builds his house as the moth, as a booth which the watchman makes.

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

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

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

20 T errors overtake him like waters. A storm 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 departs. 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 F or it hurls at him, and does not spare, as he flees away from 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 shall hiss him out of his place.

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